RYEDALE needs 240 new homes a year built over the next 12 years and 45 hectares of land used for employment land for businesses.

The news comes in a new planning report by the district council’s head of planning and housing, Gary Housden, who says that in addition to 3,000 new homes envisaged in the district’s new Local Plan Strategy, a further 600 are needed to provide a “buffer”.

The allocation of the new homes is 1,800 for Malton and Norton, 900 in Pickering, 360 for Kirkbymoorside, 180 for Helmsley and 360 at what are described as service villages – those with a range of facilities – including Amotherby and Swinton, Ampleforth, Beadlam and Nawton, Hovingham, Rillington, Sherburn, Sheriff Hutton, Slingsby, Staxton and Willerby and Thornton-le-Dale. So far, 55 have been built in the villages and planning permissions exist for a further 229, said Mr Housden.

Sites highlighted for development include Pecketts Yard, Sheriff Hutton (15), The Balk and Aspen Way, Slingsby (73), Low Moorgate and Manor View, Rillington (17) and land off Main Street and St Helen’s, Amotherby (19).

Talks are under way with town and parish councils on the earmarked sites, said Mr Housden.

On employment land, he says the allocation for sites for businesses is seen as 30-36 hectares at Malton and Norton, six hectares at Pickering, and between 1.85 and 2.25 hectares at Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley.

More space is also needed for retailing, but Mr Housden said the space needed for food retailing is currently met through existing planning permissions.

However, about 5,400sq metres is needed for Malton and Norton, and 1,156sq metres for Pickering, with the same amount to be shared between Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley.