COUNCILLORS have revealed a list of reasons for refusing a controversial housing development for more than 200 homes in Kirkbymoorside.

The application, submitted by Gladman Developments for 225 homes on land at Westfield, was rejected by councillors at a lively Ryedale District Council planning meeting earlier this month.

But the reasons for refusal were not given after councillors were warned by council solicitor Anthony Winship of the “very serious financial implications” for not coming up with sufficient reasons for refusal on planning grounds.

At a second planning meeting last week, councillors were presented with a list of five reasons for refusing the development, which local residents had urged councillors to turn down, branding it a “recipe for disaster”.

Among the reasons, which were agreed by councillors, was that the proposed development would have caused “significant and demonstrable harm” to the form and character of the town.

Gladman Developments had previously said that 35 per cent of the homes built would be affordable housing and five per cent would have been bungalows to cater for older residents.

A further reason for refusal was that the plans would alter the “distinctive character of the wider landscape” and was not in accordance with the Ryedale Local Plan Strategy, which was adopted in September last year.

In a statement accompanying the refusals, Gary Housden, head of planning and housing at the district council, said that the authority had acted “positively and proactively” and recognised the “considerable local opposition” to the planning application on the site.

He said: “The planning committee weighed all the material considerations of this case in the decision making balance and reached a planning judgement that weighed in favour of refusal.”