COUNCILLORS praised a development that will bring almost 300 homes to an area desperately in need of affordable housing - and rid a community of a site plagued by anti-social behaviour.

Richmondshire District Council planning committee voted unaminously to agree to the proposals in Colburn, near Catterick Garrison.

Taylor Wimpey Limited applied for planning permission on the site of a disused concrete pipe works in 2010 for up to 282 dwellings, of which 30 per cent would be affordable.

However, due to the recession, no building work has yet taken place, leaving the Colburn Pipeworks buildings to become a target for vandals.

The plans for the site, on Catterick Road, also include improvements to access from the A6136 and to a major junction on Catterick Road near the Duchess of Kent Military Hospital.

Local residents and councillors praised the plans.

Colburn Mayor Bev Partridge said: “I support this proposal.

“It will make the area more appealing, just as long as roads and roundabouts are improved to help an already busy route.”

Colburn Town Councillor Angie Dale said this was a long-awaited move.

“We desperately need this housing to make Colburn feel like it has a hub.

“At the moment it is stretched out along one road and we don’t feel like we have a town centre - more housing will fill the gap and hopefully help to fill the business units at Colburn Business Park.”

Coun Keith Loadman said: “I am pleased to see this coming ahead.

“Two years ago we gave outline planning permission for this - it will be good to see construction work in Richmondshire.

“I am also pleased see affordable homes are scattered throughout the estate, and hopefully a lot of the people living here in the future will be able to walk to work if businesses grow.”

Concerns were raised by the police architectural liaison officer who said pedestrian links between different parts of the new estate were viewed as providing “increased opportunity for criminals.”

But committee members dismissed this claim and said they were “very happy” with the proposed layout of the site.

Work is due to begin this summer.