PLANS to build up to 110 homes on the outskirts of a town have been rejected by a council - but an appeal has already been lodged by developers.

On Thursday (January 11) Hambleton District Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to refuse Gladman Developments permission for the development on a five hectare site near Strikes Garden Centre, outside Stokesley.

The plans involved creating the development on an arable field land bordered by the B1267 and the A172 and had been recommended for refusal.

The council stated in its planning report that the application lies outside Stokesley’s Development Limits and the town already has a “strong supply” of housing currently being built at the White House Farm site and Tanton Road.

Although the developers proposed creating 50 per cent affordable housing, officers stated the absence of a signed planning obligation meant the proposal failed to deliver appropriate levels of affordable housing.

Gladman Developments has already lodged an appeal because the application was not decided within 13 weeks of being lodged.

Planning law allows developers the right to appeal to the Secretary of State if an application has not been determined within a certain time period.

In the planning report, Hambleton District Council stated the delay was due to matters relating to highways and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) remaining unresolved at the time the appeal was lodged.

The report stated: “The applicant has lodged an appeal because the application was not determined within 13 weeks of receipt, owing to outstanding consultation responses.

“A number of matters regarding highway issues and SUDS had not been resolved by the applicant to the satisfaction of North Yorkshire County Council at the time the appeal was made.

“The highways matter have since been resolved.

“The decision will therefore by made by an inspector appointed by the secretary of state and it is necessary for the council to determine the position it will take in the appeal.”