PLANS for a 1,080-home housing development, which include a bypass road and bridge over a railway line to divert traffic from a congestion blackspot, have been unveiled.

Mulberry Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes will reveal their blueprint to develop 53 hectares of land, mainly between the A167 Darlington Road and the A684 Stokesley Road, in Northallerton, at a public exhibition at the Golden Lion Hotel, from 2pm to 9pm, on Monday.

The North Northallerton proposals, which have emerged following several years of discussions, would be built over 15 years and include two smaller areas to the west of Darlington Road and east of Stokesley Road, to the north of Thurston Road industrial estate.

A key element of the development is a proposed £10 million to £12 million link road between Darlington Road and Stokesley Road and a bridge over Brompton Beck and the Middlesbrough to Northallerton railway line, providing an alternative for motorists, and in particular HGVs, which travel through the town centre.

The scheme, which will be funded with a £6 million grant from the local enterprise partnership and also by the developers, is being pushed forward weeks after mounting frustration over congestion caused by the Low Gates level crossing saw a petition launched, calling on the Government to take urgent action as it was harming the local economy, environment and amenities.

Developers say the bypass would have a 30mph speed limit and the scheme would involve closing vehicle access to the southern section of Northallerton Road from the link road.

Visitors to the exhibition will be shown plans to build 300 homes, of more than 15 different styles, in the first phase, which will be set within green corridors to provide for residents' recreational needs.

The developers say part of the land to the south of the link road would be used for commercial and retail development.

The blueprint also features a sports village, alongside allotments and land for a new primary school, between the Middlesbrough to Northallerton railway line and Northallerton Road.

It is believed the scheme will generally be well received by Hambleton district councillors, who are set to decide the scheme in October, partly because it will help solve the decades-old issue of congestion in the town.

The authority's most recent leader Mark Robson, who will contest the Sowerby ward at next month's local elections, said: "It would appear more and more goods trains are using the railway line, so this will provide much needed relief for Northallerton and ease the housing demand pressure."

While the proportion of the affordable housing has yet to be agreed, it is believed leading councillors are hopeful of achieving their 40 per cent target.

Gareth Dant, secretary of Northallerton Retail and Business Forum, said it broadly welcomed the proposals, and in particular the planned railway bridge.

He said: "The traffic congestion in the town centre caused by the level crossings is harmful and disruptive.

"This plan should alleviate the issue at one end of our town.

"We look forward to taking a closer look and hearing what can be done to ease the situation at the southern end too."