RESIDENTS are opposing plans for a housing development in Norton for a fourth time due to concerns over flooding.

A proposal for 13 self-contained assisted living units and a unit for warden’s accommodation, following the demolition of existing agricultural-type buildings, has been put forward by Thomas Crown Associates Ltd, on a triangular area of land between Springfield Garth and Lakeside Way.

Plans for eight homes on the site were refused by the Planning Inspectorate at appeal, while two earlier applications - one for 18 properties and a second for 23 homes - have previously been rejected by Ryedale District Council’s planning committee.

Cllr Di Keal, town and district councillor for Norton West, said: “Residents’ views haven’t changed and their opposition to the plans, for very valid reasons, is as strong as ever. This is the wrong type of development in entirely the wrong place.

“The site sits on flood plain and is totally inappropriate place for assisted living accommodation that is likely to used by elderly or less-abled residents who would find it difficult to evacuate in the event of inundation from flood waters.

“We do need more of this style of accommodation, but there are undoubtedly more suitable sites.”

Elizabeth Moss, who lives on Lakeside, said: “The last application on this site, to refurbish the existing buildings, was approved unopposed at Ryedale, but no work has been carried out and now the developers have come back with yet another totally unsuitable plan.

“The access via Lakeside is unacceptable on health and safety grounds as it will cut through a much used public right of way.

A spokesman for the applicants said: “The current application has addressed all previous planning issues and will now go before the district council’s planning committee for decisions.”