PLANS to demolish working farm buildings used by tenant farmers as part of a scheme for new 113 homes have met with widespread opposition.

Around 400 residents have submitted objections to Hambleton District Council over proposals by developers Gladman to demolish two large barns, agricultural sheds and two sandstone stables at School House farm in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire.

One of the buildings that could be demolished has within it a farm shop where villagers can buy locally-produced food.

Proposals to build 113 homes on farmland behind the farm, off Station Road, were unanimously rejected by Hambleton District Council’s planning committee in January this year. Gladman appealed against the decision and the plans for the housing development are due to be heard by the planning inspectorate at a planning inquiry in January.

Several weeks ago (September 1) Gladman submitted fresh plans for demolition of the agricultural buildings.

The buildings are currently all used by Cath and Mark Phalps, who have farmed for more than 23 years at School Farm and without them they will be unable to continue farming.

Two of the buildings are currently used for storage of hay and straw, while the others are used for grain storage in summer and housing cattle over winter. One of the buildings is used for the egg production side of the business and has a farm shop built into it.

The two sandstone stables are used for horses belonging to the Phalps family.

One of the villagers protesting against development at School Farm, Peter Morgan, said the farm and shop created local, sustainable jobs in the community.

“When this housing application was put in, it covered all kinds of aspects, including that it would create a certain amount of building jobs and that it would create more service jobs with more demand for pubs and restaurants," he said. "But the farm shop and egg business provide concrete jobs in the here and now and they’re employing people in the village. People walk to work - it doesn’t get more sustainable than that.”

He added: “Ayton is at that critical point whereby make it any larger and it becomes urbanised. It has a village feel at the moment because of all the open land that surrounds it.”

North Yorkshire County Councillor for Great Ayton, Heather Moorhouse, said she believed the latest plans may have been submitted because permission for demolition of the farm buildings had been omitted from the original plans.

She said: “There’s a lot of opposition in the village and there’s a strong body of residents who intend to put their views forward when it comes to the planning inquiry in January.”

Gladman did not wish to comment on the proposals.