Villagers win their battle to halt homes

Officers had been recommending that proposals to build 30 homes in historic Ampleforth, famed for its abbey, be approved because Ryedale District Council is not able to demonstrate that it has a five-year supply of housing sites.

Ampleforth is also one of 10 villages in the district which has been has been designated as a place where extra homes could be provided, as council bosses draw up a blueprint which will earmark sites for future housing and development.

At a meeting in February members of the council’s planning committee voted that they were mindful to refuse the application, despite officers recommendations that it should be approved. However this week councillors voted to refuse the application.

Jo Priestman, who lives in Ampleforth and is opposed to the plan, said afterwards: “People are over the moon and this has restored our faith in democracy.”

Coun Brian Maud, a member of the planning committee, said it was possible there could be an appeal by the developers.

Villagers recently employed a rarely-used parish poll to try to send the message to developers that large-scale developments would not be welcome. David Wilson Homes had applied for permission to build 30 homes, which would include affordable housing.

*Meanwhile, plans for the redevelopment of the former Dunlopillo site, in Pannal, Harrogate, will be on display next week.

Forward Investments LLP’s proposals, which include 120 houses and land for use by small businesses, will be on display in Pannal Memorial Hall, 2pm-7.30pm on Tuesday and 4.30pm-8.30pm on Wednesday ahead of a planning application being submitted.