Proposals for 1,100 homes on the outskirts of Harrogate have prompted a senior councillor to warn that North Yorkshire is "under siege" from development that is not properly planned.
Developer Hallam Land has launched a public consultation on proposals for a major residential development at Burley Bank, to the north-west of the town.
The scheme would include up to 1,100 homes, with 40 per cent designated as affordable housing, alongside employment space, shops and community facilities.
Land would also be set aside for a new primary school, if required, while around 40 per cent of the 73.8-hectare site would be retained as green or open space.
However, councillor Michael Harrison, who represents the Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate division, which includes the proposed housing site, on North Yorkshire Council and is executive member for health and adult services, has expressed frustration over the number of developments coming forward outside a wider planning framework.
He said:
“I remain frustrated that, because of the Government increasing our housing targets, we’re under siege from development that isn’t plan-led.
“Any planning professional would tell you that development should be plan-led, but I feel there’s very little of that happening in Harrogate or the wider area.
“This is another example of the problem. When development happens in a piecemeal way, it creates real challenges in planning the infrastructure needed to support large-scale housing developments.”
The proposed development would occupy land east of Burley Bank Road and west of Oaker Bank.
Hallam Land says the scheme would help meet North Yorkshire’s growing housing needs while creating a new community with access to local services and green spaces.
The proposals include a flexible local centre which could accommodate a café, convenience shop and other community facilities.
Employment space would also be provided, alongside improvements to walking, cycling and bus connections linking the development with Harrogate and the surrounding countryside.
The developer says landscaping, biodiversity improvements, recreational areas and sustainable drainage would form part of the scheme.
Adam Masters, senior land and planning manager at Hallam Land, said:
“Burley Bank represents an exciting opportunity to create a new, sustainable community that responds to Harrogate’s housing needs while providing the infrastructure, facilities and green spaces to benefit both new and existing residents.
“We know people want to see community infrastructure delivered alongside new homes.
“That is why the significant number of affordable homes will be delivered alongside community infrastructure such as land for a new primary school, if required, a local centre and ancillary retail uses, employment space, and improved cycling, walking and bus connections.”
He said the developer was particularly interested in hearing what facilities residents would like to see included in the local centre.
He added:
“We encourage local people to have their say to help inform the emerging vision for this proposal."
Hallam Land is distributing consultation leaflets to local households, including freepost feedback forms.
Residents can also view the proposals and submit comments through the consultation website at www.hallamland-burleybank.co.uk.
The consultation will help shape the proposals before a planning application is submitted.
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