RESIDENTS have been shocked to discover a major housing developer is considering building another 110 homes in an area where more than a thousand new homes have been approved in the last couple of years.

The unexpected proposal by developers Gladman, to build 110 new homes on land north of Stokesley has been met by surprise locally.

The plans at currently in the early stages of development, but a consultation leaflet delivered to nearby homes explains the plans for the parcel of land between the B1365 and the A172, near Strikes Garden Centre.

The leaflet explains the homes would be of “varying size” and up to 50 per cent, or 55 properties, would be “affordable” homes.

The site would be accessed from the B1365 and would include a "hillock" in the top right corner which would provide views across Stokesley, a children’s play area and seating.

On the leaflet, Gladman states: “We believe that a development should provide an opportunity to improve the range and quality of services that are available in Stokesley. We would be very interested to hear your views on additional services or improvements that would be of value to your community.”

Stokesley Town Councillor Ian Blakemore said the council had not yet been approached by the developer. He felt the issue was not that houses were being built, but the number of type of homes being proposed, as there were still many people in the area in desperate need of affordable homes.

Currently more than 180 homes are being built at Stokesley Grange, on the western edge of the town, while permission for 226 new homes off Tanton Road in the town was granted in September 2015.

In addition to the new housing developments in the town, neighbouring Hutton Rudby has had several planning proposals submitted last year for housing developments. Eight parcels of land around the village have been put forward for inclusion in Hambleton District Council’s local plan as suitable for housing.

Only five miles away from Stokesley, just over the North Yorkshire border in Cleveland, the village of Nunthorpe has had 128 homes granted approval in September.

And approximately ten miles away from the site in the market town of Guisborough, 114 new homes were granted planning permission, in addition to an 188-home development by Bellway being granted approval in the town in 2014 and the 277-home Galley Hill development which was approved in 2015.

Cllr Blakemore said he thought they had now exceeded their five year housing supply target and were looking at a seven year supply of homes being built.

“Another 110 homes on top of the ones already planned to be built will increase our housing stock by about 24 per cent, which is a huge uplift with what else is going on in South Tees and Hambleton,” he said.

No comment was available from the developers, Gladman.