ALTERNATIVE sites for development that will help shape the future of Hambleton are going out to consultation after more than 3,000 people responded to the first round of deliberations.

They form part of the Draft Local Plan that will be a blueprint for building and development for the area’s towns and villages for the next twenty years. It will be the basis for deciding where new houses, industry, businesses and leisure areas are built, and what areas will be protected and preserved.

It has already been out for discussion once with over 3,000 people telling the district council what they think - and now 83 alternative and new sites are being considered along with 148 extra potential greenspace sites identified.

One of the biggest new potential schemes is a 72-acre industrial site at Aiskew Moor, near Leeming Bar. The area is already renowned as a food processing and producing centre and it’s thought this could offer much needed extra space for new businesses.

Extra industrial land is also earmarked at Shires Bridge Mill Business Park on the A19 at Easingwold, Dalton Airfield and at Stokesley Business Park.

The extra sites for consultation were approved by Hambleton’s cabinet. Senior planning officer Helen Langler said in a report to the committee: “Further work has already been undertaken to review the growth aspirations of local businesses and what this is likely to mean in terms of job creation through a telephone survey.

“Consultants will also be commissioned to review the implications of increased employment land allocations on the housing requirements for the Local Plan.”

Cllr Peter Wilkinson asked if they needed to employ consultants when they probably knew the answers to the questions but Cllr Brian Phillips said: “This is an important part of the consultation process, we need to make sure the amount of employment land can be supported, it also leads onto housing land.

“If we allocate too much land for employment and it is not taken up we could end up with developers wanting to turn employment land into housing land and we wouldn’t have a case.”

Consultation on the new sites will start on April 21 for six weeks, with the Draft Local Plan expected to be ready by autumn. For information go to hambleton.gov.uk