Developers address concerns over Langton Road housing plan

An outline planning application for up to 90 houses with point of access has been made for land south of 159 Langton Road in Norton.

Johnson Mowat Planning, based in Leeds, has submitted the plans on behalf of The Crossley Grandchildren's Trust.

The application has so far received over 40 objections with concerns over flooding, the impact on the sewerage system and pressure on Derwent Surgery, while Norton Town Council has said the development could be 'a recipe for chaos' on the roads in the area.

However, a spokesperson for the developers said the application was a 'positive response' to the need for additional homes in the area including affordable housing.

In addition over £100k would be provided to create additional floor space in the surgery for the anticipated increase in patients

They added: "The proposed development off Langton Road provides for all clean roof water, surface water, etc to go to an attenuation pond close to Beverley Road and to drain away from there to the east as the land currently does. The attenuation pond will absorb rainfall, etc and impound it and release it into the drainage at a slow rate similar to that from normal land drainage so that it does not exasperate flooding in the River Derwent.

"We do not see how water from the development site will impact the situation on Langley Drive which we understand is drained separately to the Mill Beck to the west."

Regarding sewerage issues, the spokesperson said: "As with all new houses only the foul water from toilets, washing machines, kitchen sink, wash hand basins, showers and baths etc will drain into Yorkshire Water’s foul sewer. The amount of foul sewage flushed into the system does not fluctuate with rain events.

"All the clean roof and surface water will be separated out and will not go into the main (combined) sewer and will go to an attenuation pond near Beverley Road."

"As with all new developments, Yorkshire Water receive an infrastructure charge, set by Ofwat, to reimburse them for the capital cost of upgrading their sewerage and water supply infrastructure to accommodate new customers. We support the community in urging Yorkshire Water and Ofwat to prioritise the upgrading of the sewage works that serve Malton/Norton to accommodate the anticipated development around the town and to limit the number of combined sewer overflows into the river to the absolute minimum."

The spokesperson said funding would be provided to Derwent Practice as part of the application details.

"We have already had a response from the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership to the application requesting £106,062 to create additional floor space in the surgery for the anticipated increase in patients associated with the application. We can confirm this will be paid as part of this development when it receives detailed consent."

"The Government have put a large and onerous responsibility onto North Yorkshire to provide a significant slice of the housing as part of the 1.5 million homes they pledged to build in the life of this Parliament. The impact on the old Ryedale area is particularly onerous. But Malton and Norton being the only town in Ryedale with a railway station and A64 main trunk road it is the obvious place to take the lions share of the housing provision and we feel this scheme put forward provides a positive response to these challenges including 35% affordable housing.

"We welcome the acknowledgement from Norton Town Council that there is a recognised need for new housing within Norton and the additional residential development is supported in principle. Although the Town Council says that there is an absence of a suitable vehicle access plan, this is not the case. The application is supported by an appropriate vehicle strategy that deals with highways safety and accessibility matters. The proposals provide safe and practical pedestrian and vehicular access arrangements in line with local and national design guidance.

Mayor of Norton Cllr Di Keal said: “The proposed development on Langton Road was recently discussed by Norton town council and councillors expressed serious concerns about the plans. While we recognise that housing is needed and North Yorkshire County has stiff targets to meet in terms of houses built, as a council we are very concerned that this development will have an adverse effect on the Langton Road area as it would dramatically increase traffic levels in an already congested road.

“It would also likely lead to more use of both Langley Drive/Hambleton Road and Bazely's Lane as ‘rat runs’ by motorists trying to find less busy routes.

“If it does go ahead an alternative access road needs to be created that diverts traffic away from Langton Road. At a minimum the development will add a further ninety cars to local traffic – likely to be many more with more than one car belonging to many households – which is a recipe for chaos on the roads in this area of Norton .”