Ryedale homes plan welcome (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale homes plan welcome

A SCHEME to build 218 homes in a Ryedale town has been welcomed as one which will bring considerable benefits to the local community.

But Coun Howard Keal told members of Ryedale District Council's planning committee last night that he wanted to see a pumping station, proposed as part of the Redrow Homes plan for land at Bells Yard, Scarborough Road, Norton, completed before the next "flooding season".

He said the development would yield £500,000 worth of improvements for Norton, including the provision of the pumping station.

Coun Lindsay Burr also welcomed the development. "We desperately need new housing in Norton," she said.

Committee chairman Coun Allin Jenkins said it was important that money from the developer for education should be spent in Norton.

Senior planning officer Paul Simpson said: "The layout has been well thought out. It won't have any marked impact on neighbours."

He dismissed suggestions from objectors that it could result in "ghettos" being created, because of the areas of affordable housing, involving some 45 per cent of the total scheme.

But he said the officers are looking for a better design of the water retention areas.

The Environment Agency still had concerns potential flooding and surface water disposal. "They say it is a technical objection until the issues are resolved," said Mr Simpson.

The committee agreed the scheme in principle, and delegated final approval to officers in conjunction with local members, the chairman and vice chairman of the committee.

Mr Simpson said that once the issues were resolved, the scheme would have to go to the Government Office in Leeds for a decision as to whether it should be called in for a decision to be made at Ministerial level.

There had been a debate on whether part of the commuted sum should be used to provide a new classroom at Norton county primary school or go towards the proposed building of a replacement school.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, June 02, 2004