A HUGELY ambitious plan to create 900 new homes and a congestion-busting road bridge are expected to be given the green light next week.

Despite objections to the much-vaunted multi-million pound North Northallerton scheme, planning officials are urging Hambleton councillors to give the project the thumbs up when they meet on Thursday.

Developers Mulberry Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon Homes and others have lodged a “hybrid” application for the scheme, seeking full approval for a link road and bridge and 291 of the homes – phase one - and outline approval for the rest of the project.

Planners are recommending that permission should be granted in both cases, covering a total area of 52.8 hectares east of Darlington Road, west of Stokesley Road and north of the Thurston Road industrial estate.

Phase one would comprise 150 dwelling east of Darlington Road and another 141 to the west of Stokesley Road, a village green and the creation of a link road together with a road bridge over the Northallerton to Middlesbrough railway line.

And the entire project would see a further 609 homes built together with a new primary school and a neighbourhood centre with shops, restaurants, medical and extra care facilities, parking and even playing pitches and allotments.

The development would be one of the biggest ever seen in the Northallerton area and, with its wide scope, has been the subject of much discussion and consultation locally.

A number of objections have been raised by various statutory bodies and individuals – citing, among other things, lack of housing need, traffic congestion, drainage and flooding issues and the noise impact.

Both Brompton and Northallerton town councils have also formally objected to the scheme, with the latter claiming the proposed link road and bridge would mainly only affect the new development and would do little to decrease the traffic flows within Northallerton.

However after studying the objections the planning officials have concluded that none of them amount to a reason to refuse the applications.

“The relevant planning issues that have been raised can be adequately addressed by the imposition of a range of planning conditions and/or legal agreement,” says their report.

“ Furthermore, design refinements will also undoubtedly occur in the detailed design phase.”

They also point out that the scheme would help deliver a new primary school and recreational land which would be of wider benefit to local communities as well as provide the council with the opportunity to meet part of its required housing provision.