Officials approve homes plan despite protests

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build dozens of council houses in open countryside north of Bridlington will be decided this week.

Officials at East Riding Council are recommending approval of the scheme off Nostell Way, off Bempton Lane, although it is a departure from their own plan.

The proposals, which have sparked complaints over lack of consultation, would see a mix of council and private houses (70 affordable and 20 private) built in four phases as part of a 33m house-building programme being undertaken by East Riding Council.

Local residents are concerned about traffic accessing the new estate, including those living on a quiet cul de sac which will become one of main point of entry to the site. They say the scheme doesn’t meet policies and has been rushed through to meet the funding deadline.

The town council is also calling for the plans to be rejected at a meeting on Thursday, saying the proposal would overload services, including roads, schools and drainage, and say there should have been consultation “as there are obviously very strong feelings of opposition”.

But the council says there are more than 1,600 households on the waiting list in Bridlington alone, and part of the site was earmarked for housing anyway, with much of the remainder of meant for a primary school.

A report to the committee which meets on Thursday states: “The applicant has argued that there are no other sites to satisfy the need for affordable housing in the short term and the application should be treated as an exception to normal planning policy.”

Planners say they accept that there will be an increase in traffic along local roads but claim the need for affordable housing and the existing houses “justify an exception to the provisions of the development plan.”

If approved the plans would be deferred for more consultation on an amended layout, then approved subject to conditions.

In total East Riding Council is building 275 homes – but the schemes have to be completed by next March.