Protesters call public meeting against village homes project

Members of Scalby Village Trust have organised the meeting in protest at plans by developers Signet Planning to build an estimated 500 new homes on High Mill Farm, Station Road, Scalby.

The scheme is part of broader plans to build 1,720 homes on three sites in the village at Northfield Way/Castlemount, Ridge Green, and High Mill Farm.

Outline planning permission was obtained for the High Mill Farm development in October last year and a detailed planning application is set to be submitted soon.

But there have been hundreds of objections from residents, claiming the scheme will swamp local services, lead to huge traffic problems, and “ruin” the Domesday village of Scalby.

Caroline Pindar, chairman of Scalby Village Trust, said: “We think it is vital that people in the area see exactly what is proposed for their village and the impact it is going to have.

“We feel that not enough has been done so far to let people know what is suggested, so we have got copies of the plans which we will be putting on display at the meeting.

“We would urge anyone who is concerned about the over-development of our village to come along and see for themselves.

“It will also provide an opportunity for people to pass on their comments about the development and at least have a say over what is built on this site.”

Scalby Village Trust has argued the contentious scheme should be rejected because it is outside the permitted development limits of the village and therefore in breach of the Local Plan.

But Scarborough Council officers and members say while they understand residents’ concerns at the scope of the proposed development, their priority is to create jobs and affordable homes in the area where more than 5,000 people are currently on housing waiting lists.

Coun Tom Fox, leader of Scarborough Council, said: “This has been brought forward by a developer and satisfies certain local criteria so the council will look at that.

“Clearly there are some people who think this development is a step too far but we have to balance that with the wider need.

“Housing shortage in Scarborough, and particularly affordable housing, is massive.

“We have 5,000 people on the waiting lists for homes, it is just astronomical.

“We have got to get people into affordable housing while at the same time expanding the borough through jobs and opportunity.”

Outline planning consent for the scheme was first secured before the General Election, but Scarborough Council admitted its hands were tied to a large extent by house-building and affordable housing targets.

Before Labour fell from power, its planning policies required Scarborough Council to grant permission for 560 dwellings each year up to 2026 – and the need to provide a broader mix of housing meant looking at Green Field sites on the edge of town.

The plans were resubmitted in October after the coalition Government announced it wanted to remove the “dead hand of central Government bureaucracy” from local decision-making and stop green belt land being concreted over to meet targets.

But in the absence of national guidelines, Scarborough Council agreed before the meeting to an Interim Housing Position Paper which pledged to provide a better mix of housing across the borough to meet the growing need – and outline permission to the High Mill Farm development was again granted.

Signet says it held two public exhibitions at Scalby Parish Hall last month on February 10 and February 11.

Tonight’s meeting takes place at Scalby Community Hall at 7.30pm.