MALTON Town Council will hold a special meeting on August 20, to decide its response to the 500-home scheme proposed for land north of Castle Howard Road by the Fitzwilliam Estate.

People are invited to put forward their views on the development, which is said will be along the lines of The Prince of Wales’ Poundbury Village, in Gloucestershire.

Councillors welcomed the prospect of it being built by the estate because of its historic links with Malton, rather than “an out-of-town house-building giant”.

The development will include a retirement home, shops and community facilities.