District's planning strategy set to benefit local economy

Mark Branagan

BUSINESSES and people affected by the house-building slump will benefit from a new planning strategy drawn up to boost the local economy in Hambleton.

The district has become one of the first planning authorities in the country to unveil its list of future development sites having received approval from the government.

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The document includes proposals for housing, employment, recreation, shopping and community sites up to 2026 – and it defines development limits for the district’s 50 main settlements.

It is the last piece in the jigsaw of a bundle of documents that have been drawn up to replace the old Local Plan.

It has been approved by Government planning inspectors – subject to some minor amendments. Only two of the 60 submitted proposals put forward by the council have been deleted.

But the schemes that have been given the chop are significant – the proposed upgrade of Motel Leeming in Leeming Bar into a motorway service area, and earmarking an area for recreation and leisure in Thirsk.

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Leeming Bar Motel was opened beside the northbound carriageway of the A1 at Leeming Bar in 1961. But the facilities will be bypassed by an 318m upgrade currently underway of the A1 between Dishforth Interchange and Leeming.

It was hoped to turn the site into a motorway service area. But the new interchange with the A684 is to the north of Leeming Bar and drivers would have to leave the motorway and travel almost a mile to reach the Motel Leeming service area

However, the proposals at North Northallerton and South West Thirsk were approved – clearing the way for major extensions to both the two market towns over the next 15 years.

“Hambleton is one of the first planning authorities in the country to bring forward an allocations plan,” said Cabinet Member for Places Coun Tim Swales.

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“We hope it will help lead the revival of the local economy and particularly the severely-hit house building sector. It will work alongside our core strategy and development policies to create a sustainable solution to meet future development needs.”

The council will adopt the allocations document, with a new proposals map, in December 2010.

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