Plan for 1,500-home development set for approval

A new primary school, improved GP services and better road links have been proposed as part of a 1,500-home scheme in North Yorkshire.

If approved by councillors, the development would be constructed on the edge of the village of Eggborough, near Selby.

A total of 365 objections to the proposals were submitted during a consultation, with residents raising concerns about the scale of development, pressure on infrastructure, traffic congestion, flooding, loss of farmland and the impact on the rural character of the village.

However, planning officers concluded the proposal should be approved because of North Yorkshire Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply in the area.

As well as about 1,500 homes including extra care housing, a local centre with shops and services would also be built, the Local Democracy Service reports.

A contribution of about £6.5m would be made for the council to build a new primary school with at least 420 places, with a further £1.7m being used to improve primary care services and more than £1m would go to the new Selby Special School.

The plans also include highway improvements such as a new roundabout on Weeland Road, pedestrian and cycle links, new crossings, bus stop upgrades and changes to speed limits.

A purpose-built extra care scheme was also proposed as part of a package worth more than £20m, according to applicants.

In their report, planning officers acknowledged the proposed development conflicted with existing countryside protection policies because the site was located outside current development limits.

But they said national planning rules requiring councils to significantly boost housing supply outweighed those concerns.

The report stated the site was considered a "sustainable location" due to its position next to a designated service village, and because the scheme would deliver housing, affordable homes, a school and community facilities.

Planning officers accepted the development would result in the permanent loss of more than 123.5 acres (50 hectares) of the best and most versatile agricultural land and would have a significant impact on the landscape.

However, they concluded the economic, social and housing benefits of the development outweighed the harm identified.

The application is due to be decided by members of North Yorkshire Council's strategic planning committee on Tuesday.

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