PLANNING officials are to visit the sites of two controversial planned housing developments, which could see 150 homes built on an historic site in a town.

Members of Hambleton District Council's development management committee will visit the site of plans for 481 homes, including 150 on green belt land, in Northallerton, on Tuesday.

The joint applications by developers Yuill Homes and Taylor Wimpey, have received 27 letters of complaint from residents.

advertisementIf approved, the plans would see 331 homes and garages built on the former York Trailers site, in Yafforth Road, with a further 150 properties on the adjacent Castle Hills area.

In reports to the committee, planning officer Jonathan Saddington recommended that members visit the sites before making a decision.

He wrote: "It is considered that an early inspection of the site and surrounding area by members of the committee, and local members as appropriate, would be beneficial in ensuring a full and transparent determination of the scheme."

Mr Saddington said 25 of the objections related to the plans for Castle Hills.

Among the objectors to the plans is the town's local history society.

Secretary John Sheehan said: "Castle Hills is without doubt the most important historical site in North Yorkshire's county town, probably having been occupied since prehistoric times.

"It has been a central feature of the town through the ages and clear evidence of a Roman presence has been found.

"Over the years, it has clearly been a strategic military site.

"The site is an important green lung' in the centre of the expanding settlement and should be turned over to recreational use in its entirety."

Northallerton town council is opposed to both applications, raising concerns about drainage, noise and traffic on the York Trailers site, echoing the concerns of the local history society in relation to Castle Hills.

Town councillor Jack Dobson, a former member of the district council's planning committee, will attend the site visits on behalf of the town council.

He said: "Castle Hills is an important historic site in Northallerton, and should remain as green wedge.

"I will be attending both site visits, as well as the meeting of the development management committee."

The committee meets at 1.30pm, in the Civic Centre, in Stone Cross, Northallerton, on Thursday.