PROPOSALS by members of a family which runs one of the region’s foremost historic houses and estates to build 99 homes in a national park have been put on hold by planners.

Members of the North York Moors National Park Authority have asked Jake and Melissa Duncombe, whose family run Duncombe Park, to take their plan for a 64 flat extra care facility, 35 houses, parking and garden areas in Helmsley back to the drawing board.

Its planning committee deferred a decision on the development, which is close to Castle Hill Deer Park and Windy Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest, after asking for the design and layout of the houses to be changed.

The move followed the authority’s director of planning recommending the proposals for Ashwood Close be approved, subject to funding being agreed with the applicants to ensure the 44 affordable properties in the plan remained affordable in perpetuity and planning permission being granted to replace a playing field on which the development will be built.

Residents had raised numerous concerns over the plans, saying it encroached on an area of natural beauty and there had been little thought given to the appearance of the site, which would feature a three-storey extra care home and housing of “an extremely high density”.

Peter Holmes-Johnson, of Ashwood Close, said: “ The proposed development, with almost 100 residences, is far too large for this site. The development is on rising ground, which will be significantly detrimental to the preservation of the countryside and the North York Moors National Park .”

An officers’ report to the meeting heard the proposal would “sit comfortably on the site and not harm the character of the area”, but added the building conservation team had expressed concerns regarding the design and layout of the development.

The applicants said the development would bring “much-needed new housing for local people”, while Ryedale District Council has backed the scheme, saying it was important for the provision of extra care housing and affordable homes in the area. Meeting demand for extra care housing is seen as vital as 25 per cent of Ryedale residents were aged 65 or over in 2014, while the number of elderly residents is set to rise by 46 per cent by 2035, with a 128 per cent rise of those aged over 85.