Plans for up to 130 new homes on the edge of Boroughbridge have been recommended for approval despite objections from the town council and local residents.
North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee is being advised to grant outline planning permission for the Barratt David Wilson Homes development on agricultural land off Chapel Hill when it meets on Tuesday next week.
The proposal seeks outline consent for up to 130 homes, with all matters except access reserved for a later stage.
The development would include 40 per cent affordable housing, equivalent to 52 properties.
Planning officers acknowledge the site lies outside Boroughbridge’s development boundary.
However, they say the council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply means national planning policy’s presumption in favour of sustainable development applies, which strengthens the case for approval.
Boroughbridge Town Council has objected, citing inadequate infrastructure, the number of homes already approved in the town, highway concerns, pressure on local services and the site’s location outside the development limits.
Fourteen letters of objection have also been submitted by residents, raising concerns about increased traffic, drainage, school capacity, sewage infrastructure, loss of agricultural land, wildlife impacts and the effect on the nearby Aldborough Roman Town Scheduled Monument.
Despite those concerns, officers conclude that the scheme’s impacts can be mitigated through planning conditions.
A section 106 legal agreement would require the developer to provide almost £840,000 towards education provision, including primary school places, SEND provision and early years education.
A further £408,000 would be secured for open space, sports facilities, allotments, village halls and maintenance of on-site green spaces.
The developer would also contribute £260,000 to improve bus services in the area.
Although officers accept the proposal would result in the permanent loss of Grade 2 agricultural land, some landscape harm and a low level of less than substantial harm to the setting of Aldborough Roman Town, they conclude these impacts are outweighed by the benefits of delivering the housing.
In recommending approval, officers say the development would provide market and affordable homes, achieve at least ten per cent biodiversity net gain, improve public transport and deliver significant investment in local infrastructure, with the benefits outweighing the identified harm.
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