COUNCILLORS are set to decide on whether to allow a new development in Northallerton that would bring a new care home, hotel and retail unit to the town.

A public consultation on the plans, put forward by Crown Care, has already taken place and Hambleton District councillors are due to meet next week to discuss the application.

The designs include a 76-bedroom residential care home, 26 extra care apartments and an 82-bedroom hotel with a ground floor retail unit at land south of The Willow Beck pub on Finkills Way.

The development has been recommended for approval subject to a number conditions mostly in relation to environmental and infrastructure matters.

No objections have been made by relevant authorities such as the Environment Agency and Environmental Health, but some concerns were raised by the Highway Authority and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

The Highway Authority had concerns over the narrowness of the footpath over the road crossing the beck leading to Northallerton town centre, which it was considered would reduce the accessibility of the site from the town centre.

However, after discussions with the developer, the authority has requested that a planning obligation be included in the designs to secure a new footway link leading across the development and a contribution of £5,000 to a footbridge across Willow Beck.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s concerns centre around the land being in a flood zone area used by nesting birds and otters.

The report states: “If the authority is minded to give planning permission for the development, a number of issues would need to be resolved including designs for the sustainable drainage systems so that there are enhancements for biodiversity.”

The Environment Agency said it will support the application but only if measures in a Flood Risk Assessment are met and that the development passes a number of tests to alleviate the flood risk.

If approved, the development would create around 100 jobs in Northallerton.

The complex would boast a hair salon and a restaurant, plus treatment rooms where professional beauticians and therapists can offer spa treatments, manicures, pedicures, massages and facials.