PLANS to build 40 affordable homes in Thirsk will be considered at a planning meeting this week.
The proposals to create the new housing development, on an area of farm grassland at the end of St Mary’s Close, will go before Hambleton District Council’s planning committee on Thursday, November 15.
The plans have been recommended for approval by council officers, who say the provision of affordable housing, “must attract significant weight in support of the scheme.”
The home would be made up of 15 three-bed properties, 15 two-bed homes, along with eight two-bed bungalows and two one-bed properties.
Thirsk Town Council has recommended the plans are refused, as its members felt the development would overshadow an adjacent estate of bungalows and also felt the layout of homes and bungalows created a mismatched appearance.
One letter of objection was received from a local resident and called for vehicle access from The Orchard, as well as St Mary’s Close, to reduce the amount of traffic at peak times and asked that the homes on the northern part of the site be single storey bungalows at least 21 metres from St Mary’s Drive.
Other letters of objection had been received earlier, when the scheme was proposed under a different developer.
They also raised concern about the increase in traffic along St Mary’s Close and asked that there be no access from The Orchard to the site.
The objectors also said the majority of existing residents in the area were mainly elderly and claimed having more families would increase the number of cars.
The council’s housing services strongly supported the scheme, which lies adjacent to Thirsk Community Primary School, saying it would deliver “much needed” affordable homes in Thirsk, both affordable rent and shared ownership.
In the report which will go before councillors on Thursday, Hambleton District Council’s planning officers concluded the benefits of the new homes “outweighs any harm that may arise during the construction phase and in the subsequent occupation of the site.”
The report stated: “In applying the planning balance the provision of affordable housing must attract significant weight in support of the scheme.
“As at the outline stage there has been found to be no harm caused to wildlife and the site remains free from flooding problems, and it is in a sustainable location with a wide range of services nearby that are accessible by a range of means of transport including on foot and by cycle.
“The site has convenient access to an area of public open space and there is capacity in local infrastructure (including school places) to accommodate the development.
“The scheme would result in development of an area of previously undeveloped ‘green space’ within the built up area of Thirsk and would change the outlook from neighbouring homes, however the benefits of the provision of new homes, particularly affordable homes, outweighs any harm that may arise during the construction phase and in the subsequent occupation of the site.”
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