A HOUSING estate on greenfield land on a main gateway to Ripon is being recommended for refusal.

One of the reasons councillors are being advised to refuse a plan for five homes on land off Harrogate Road, near the Wheatsheaf Inn and Morrison's supermarket, is because there are already too many homes in the town.

Richmond Hill Ltd submitted an application for three four-bedroomed homes and two two-bedroomed homes.

A scheme for six homes was refused in October last year.

Harrogate Borough Council planning officer Andy Hough, in a report to councillors who will consider the application on Tuesday, said the site was clearly greenfield and failed to meet any exceptions permitted for building.

Two letters of support for the scheme claim there is a distinct possibility that the supermarket would expand and it would be better for the site to be used for housing.

Ripon City Council has not objected but councillors said they would resist any further development at this entrance to Ripon.