A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build an 81-home estate on a greenfield site beside a sewage works has been referred back to the developers after concerns the properties would be overbearing.

Hambleton District Council heard Persimmon Homes' scheme for two, three and four-bedroom houses and eight bungalows in South End, Bedale, featured numerous properties with a third storey in the roof spaces which were unsightly and inappropriate for the area.

Members were told residents had lodged two petitions featuring 165 names amid fears the site would suffer from the odour of the sewage works, lead to rising crime in the area and spoil views.

Resident Geoffrey Tuplin told the council's planning committee the height of the properties, which would be about 20 metres from his home, would mean sunlight was blocked out from his home until midday.

A council officers' report to the meeting stated the proposal had been amended to provide an acceptable level of separation between the estate and neighbouring properties.

Objections to the proposal also included concerns that nearby public services would become overburdened, that there were historic drainage problems on the site and that it would create traffic issues.

The officers report added: "It is accepted that vehicle movements on South End will increase, but it is not considered they would increase to such a level that they would have a significant detrimental impact upon the amenity of neighbouring residents."

Councillor David Blades highlighted that there were numerous three-storey properties in Northallerton and Thirsk, but Bedale councillors John Noone and Mike Barningham said three-storey properties would be completely out of character in the town.

Cllr Barningham said the town council's initial concerns over flooding at the site had been resolved by the developers, but the parish authority continued to question the wisdom of allowing developers to pass management of the estate's open space to a private firm.

He said the move would mean the estate's residents, nearly 40 per cent of which would be living in affordable homes, faced regular charges, instead of the developer paying a lump sum to the town council to manage the open space.

Before unanimously voting for a decision on the scheme to be deferred to enable developers to reconsider the design of the three-storey properties and the proposed open space management, members were warned the changes could affect the proportion of affordable homes developers would be willing to build.