PLANS have been revealed for a controversial housing development in Kirkbymoorside, three years after a Government inquiry.

Gladman Developments Ltd has submitted a planning application for 225 homes on land at Westfield, including 15 five bedroom, 44 four bedroom, 90 three bedroom and 22 two bedroom houses, 54 one bedroom apartments, landscaping, public open space, highway improvements, a balancing pond and allocation of land for use of the existing primary school.

The site has a long planning history with concerns raised by residents and Kirkbymoorside Town Council since an outline application to build 210 homes, which included affordable housing and 50 apartments for older people, was made in 2012.

Members of the town council made clear their opposition from the start; they were worried about the potential negative impact the size of the development would have on the town.

Later that year, the plans were rejected by councillors at Ryedale District Council (RDC) before they came before the committee again in June 2013 and were rejected for the second time.

Gary Housden, Ryedale District Council’s head of planning, said at the time the company had already lodged an appeal with the Government’s planning inspectorate after the previous decision by the committee to veto the plan. Three months later, in the September, Gladman was given the green light.

The following month, RDC held a special meeting to discuss the plans, but a move to revoke the decision was vetoed and councillors were told that it could potentially cost between £3m and £5m to reverse the original decision.

At the end of 2013, two Kirkbymoorside residents, submitted an application to Leeds High Court to bring judicial review proceedings in order to challenge the council’s decision to grant planning permission.

Following that, the developers submitted a revised scheme for 225 homes and removed residential care facilities from the plans, which was rejected by councillors in February 2014. However, an appeal was launched by Gladman which was allowed following an two-day public inquiry in November 2014.

Councillor Angus Ashworth, mayor of Kirkbymoorside, said: "I understand this is a of great concern to many people in the town who had hoped this would not happen.

"The development is on a very large scale that will have a very significant impact on the town in a short space of time should it ever get developed.

"I will, of course, listen to the views of residents and the town council will meet to discuss this at the January meeting and strongly voice the results of this to the planning department at Ryedale District Council who are the authoritative body."

Gladman declined to comment.