A PLAN to site Hambleton district's largest development, including 1,050 homes, a school and a congestion-busting link road and bridge on a flood plain and beside a noisy industrial estate has been approved.

Councillors unanimously backed the North Northallerton development - work on which is expected to start next year - after being told the traffic issues which have beset the town and deterred investment for decades would not be solved, but would be alleviated.

Hambleton District Council's planning committee heard funds for the Darlington to Stokesley link road and Northallerton to Middlesbrough railway bridge were in place as developers Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Mulberry Homes and Gill had offered to pay £6.3 million and the local enterprise partnership £6 million.

Members were told as the developers would also pay £5.2 million of contributions towards infrastructure such as the school, it would not be viable for developers to initially provide more than 15 per cent affordable housing on the estate, way below the authority's 40 per cent target.

Councillors, some of whom have previously insisted on higher affordable targets for other housing plans, did not contest the figure, and instead focused on how the scheme would boost the local economy with an extra 3,500 residents in the area.

They were also told after Government housebuilding target changes, the authority was also facing a significant shortfall in its housing supply.

While the large-scale plan only attracted 15 letters of objection, Northallerton Town Council had vigorously opposed the estate over numerous issues, questioning whether there was any proven need for it, particularly if minimal affordable housing would be achieved.

Andrew Gatenby, of Allerton Steel, which employs 135 staff, described the decision to site the estate beside the 24-hour heavy industrial business as madness, and said a sound-blocking earthworks bund would need to be completed before residents moved in.

Despite a final plea from Brompton Parish Council to revise key aspects of the scheme, councillors said they were content with measures to offset potential flooding, noise and road safety issues.

Northallerton councillor Tony Hall said the scheme would prove beneficial to the town, as developments to its east and south had in the 1960s and 1980s, which led to improved schools, healthcare and leisure facilities.

Councillor David Blades added: "Doing nothing is not an option for Northallerton."

After the meeting, Martin Foster of Mulberry Homes, said after nine years of preparatory work, building would begin as soon as possible to meet the local enterprise partnership's deadline for its grant.