A HOUSING developer's plans to build a mix of two and three-bedroom homes on the site of a former allotment has been refused by councillors, for the second time.

A planning application resubmitted on behalf of property developer, Arncliffe Homes Ltd, to build fourteen homes in Bedale was refused by Hambleton District Council's Planning Committee.

The developer which designs and builds "luxury new build homes" had previously applied for permission to build on the former allotment off Calvert Way in April 2018.

But earlier this year, the initial plans were refused on the grounds that the development had failed to provide a suitable level of affordable housing, had not offered a suitable alternative for existing allotments on the site, and did not propose provision of improved pedestrian and cycle access.

A fresh planning application submitted on behalf of Arncliffe Homes Ltd for an identical scheme to build fourteen houses, at the same site, was submitted in July 2019.

New plans included proposed alternative locations for affected-allotments and proposed improved pedestrian and cycle access.

But councillors found the applicant had again not proposed the provision of any affordable housing or contribution towards affordable housing.

It had been noted that the development's plans had been described by Bedale Town Council as "attractive and appropriate", but concerns had been raised over the lack of affordable homes.

The proposed site is subject to Hambleton District Council's Local Development Framework which sets out that 40 percent of its homes should be affordable.

In a report compiled by a planning officer, which recommended its refusal for the second time, it said the development had failed to meet the council's required level of affordable housing.

On Thursday, September 19, the council's Planning Committee rejected the development, solely on the grounds that it did not provide any affordable housing.

The refusal notice said: "The proposed development fails to provide the required level of affordable housing and as such is not considered to accord with the requirements of Allocations Document Policy BH1, which requires 40 percent of the housing within the allocation site to be affordable."

A third application will need to be submitted on behalf of Arncliffe Homes Ltd, if they are to redevelop the site off Calvert Way.