PLANNING officers have expressed concerns after a council was overruled on decisions over two large-scale housing developments outside of town boundaries.

Hambleton District Council has lost out twice this year at planning appeals after it failed to convince a planning inspector of its ability to deliver its five-year housing supply set out by government.

The successful appeal was for permission to build on land in Easingwold outside the Local Development Framework – just months after a previous planning appeal had been found in favour of a similar out-of-town development in Stokesley.

Planning officers fear a precedent has now been set for developers wanting to build in areas outside of the district’s development boundaries.

In September a planning inspector ruled in favour of 226 homes being built in Tanton Road, on the outskirts of Stokesley; and this month another ruled a development for 175 homes be granted at Easingwold.

Head of service for planning and housing Mark Harbottle said it was frustrating for planning officers who work on delivering appropriate sites for development – but said the main problem was still down to the credit crunch.

He said: “It’s not that the council hasn’t identified its quota of sites for deliverable housing within the next five years, or that planning permission for those sites hasn't been granted.

“The problem is that people are struggling to buy so the houses are not being built. The sites outside the Local Development Framework have a lower land value so developers can make more money.”

The authority’s planning committee had rejected both schemes as they are on greenfield sites outside the town’s development limits.

Planning inspector Ava Wood ruled in the appeal that the council could not prove it had a five year supply of deliverable housing land – but she conceded it was not the fault of the council.

The planning applications – both submitted by Gladman Developments – argued the sites met the “exceptional circumstances” test, fulfilling an urgent need for affordable housing in the district.

Ms Wood found that the council had fewer sites available for development than it estimated – by 185 on sites without planning permission and by 45 on sites with planning permission.

Mr Harbottle added: “The inspector's rulings are particularly frustrating for parish councils which try to bring forward a Neighbourhood Plan – because residents feel it could all be for nothing when things like this happen.”

The agent from Gladman Developments was not available for comment.