A PUBLIC inquiry will be launched following an appeal against the council’s decision to reject a controversial 225 housing development.

Gladman Developments Limited proposal for the homes on land at Westfield was rejected in February at a lively meeting which heard councillors describe the plans as a recipe for disaster.

The developers have now lodged an appeal against the decision which will be dealt with by way of Public Inquiry.

Mayor of Kirkbymoorside Chris Dowie said that she was not surprised that Gladman had launched the appeal.

She said: “I am not surprised at all because that is just how they work. I think Ryedale District Council had very good reasons to refuse it in the first place and they also have good reasons to defend the appeal.”

Gladman’s said that the development would have provided affordable housing as well as bungalows for elderly people in addition to £2.5million in new homes bonus across six years.

But residents in the town urged councillors to reject the application over concerns on the detrimental impact it would have on the town.

At the time, deputy mayor for the town Judy Watson said that more than 1,000 new residents would have a “devastating effect” on the town and would put a strain on services and damage the countryside.

A statement released at a Ryedale District Council planning meeting it said that council officials were in talks with legal professionals regarding the appeal.

The statement read: “Officers have sought independent professional opinions from a Planning Consultant and a Landscape Consultant and legal advice on the reasons for refusal.”

Coun Dowie said: “I am pleased that Ryedale officers are taking some expert advice on the appeal and I hope that they will defend their justification for refusal robustly.”