Hopes rise for big expansion to resort housing estate

The Middle Deepdale scheme for Eastfield, near Scarborough, has been on and off the cards for more than 15 years amid fears it would create a "monster estate" within a community already desperate for services and amenities.

However, public opposition to the scheme has died down as it became clear how the investment will benefit people already living there.

Now a new timetable for the work drawn up by Scarborough Council suggests a planning application could be ready for outline consent in the New Year, clearing the way for a start on site seven months later.

The political fallout from the scheme has been severe. Public hostility led to the ousting of Scarborough Council's long standing Labour leader Mavis Don. She lost her Eastfield seat to Dr Gratton Lockley, who has since died.

However, the council's strategic director David Archer said a complex package of investment is now in place to provide a host of improvements to the area and roads network, as well as the new housing for workers on the rapidly expanding nearby business park.

But spending cuts to the Homes and Communities Agency could undermine one of the main goals of the scheme – its ability to deliver affordable housing and accommodation for pensioners.

Mr Archer said: "The HCA has recently had its budget significantly reduced as part of the Government's spending review.

"This will directly impact on the way affordable housing and extra care provision can be funded for the scheme as it is likely that the level of grant support will be limited for the foreseeable future.

"To this end, the developers are working with the HCA, planning and housing services and the registered social landlords to identify possible mechanisms for funding the affordable housing and extra care elements of the scheme."

One option could be use money generated from the sale of land for the development to prop up the affordable housing side, but this would have to be discussed by councillors at a later date.