Housing scheme set to be approved

The scheme has been drawn up by developers from Redrow Homes Yorkshire to build as many as 90 homes on York Road in Easingwold, along with parking and road improvements.

The initial planning application had to revised after concerns were raised by members of Hambleton District Council about the type of housing, the lay-out of the site, drainage issues and the provision of car parking.

The council’s planning committee is due to meet on Thursday when an application for full planning permission has been recommended for approval.

The revised application includes proposals for terraced, semi-detached and detached homes with a mix of one, two, three and four bedrooms.

The council’s planning officers have also stipulated that a target should be set to ensure that 50 per cent of all the homes built are affordable housing.

Research has shown that the average cost of a home in North Yorkshire is £223,065, while the average wage is less than £20,000.

But a public consultation that came to an end last month saw concerns raised that desperately needed affordable housing for first-time buyers will not be built.

Residents claimed the construction of larger properties would simply see an influx of more mature and older families. They stressed Easingwold already has a skew in its population towards more mature residents and a lack of people aged under 30.

But planning officers noted that the developers had made “significant improvements” to the proposed mix of housing and the site lay-out in the revised application.

The developers will also be asked to help fund community facilities, including a sports hall at Easingwold School, as well as improved healthcare for the local community.

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