CONCERNS have been expressed that a proposed housing development would devastate a habitat used by owls and deprive a village of one its last green spaces.

The five-home development, at Carthorpe, Bedale, has been recommended for refusal and goes before Hambleton District Council’s planning committee on Thursday (May 31).

Numerous objections have been made to the scheme which would see five detached homes built on land to the east of Fiji Villa in the village which residents say is habitually used by barn owls, little owls and tawny owls.

The parish council says that the fire service has already had to pump water from flooded properties near the proposed development site and the councillors believe that any extra development in the area would represent an “unacceptable” flood risk.

In their submission to the report for the planning committee, the Parish Council adds: “There is concern that all the utilities - mains water, sewerage, electric and broadband – would not be able to cope with the incremental demand unless they were updated.

“The area represents one of the last areas of green space in the village, known for its owl population.

“Although the village of Carthorpe is a cluster village, in reality there are no amenities without a car ride, other than a pub, and the bus service has now ceased and the plan at this stage is not showing a mix of types of properties that would reflect the current mix in that area.”

Residents have also made objections to the scheme, raising similar concerns about flooding and the suitability of the site, as one resident said: “This is a green field site and is a regular hunting ground for barn owl, tawny owl and little owl.

“The proposed development will inevitably lead to a significant loss of habitat for these threatened birds and other wildlife.”

The site lies outside Hambleton District Council’s outlined development limits and the plan has been recommended for refusal, with the planning report stating: “The proposed dwellings as shown on the submitted indicative layout plan are considered to be harmful to the existing built form of the village and to the open character of the countryside.”

The planning committee meets at the Civic Centre in Northallerton at 1.30pm to decide on the application.