DEVELOPERS behind a scheme to create a block of homes for elderly and vulnerable people which is being financially backed by one council have lodged an appeal against another council’s decision to refuse it planning permission.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive heard Broadacres Housing Association would contest Hambleton District Council’s move to reject plans for a 59-flat extra care development off Queen Anne’s Drive, in Bedale.

Following numerous concerns being raised by residents, the district council concluded the proposal was unacceptable due to the “massing and design leading to over-development of the site”, with resulting loss of trees which would harm the area’s “amenity, ecology and landscape character”.

The authority’s planning committee also considered the car parking provision to be inadequate and the off-site traffic implications unacceptable along with the demolition of four affordable bungalows to make way for the structure, which was likened to a prison block.

It is understood the appeal to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate will include challenges over the alleged access and roads issues, which contrasted with the findings of two studies.

While district councillors have stated they believe the huge centre should be built elsewhere in the town the rejection of the scheme has sparked concerns for the county council about finding an alternative site as it is aiming to develop extra care housing in every market town.

Extra care centres aim to provide residents with the security and privacy of a home of their own, with a range of facilities on site and access to 24-hour care and support services, if needed.

The executive meeting heard the development of extra care has been proven to improve the “community offer” and also provide accommodation that allows people to live in the scheme with significant health and social care needs. Crucially for an authority facing soaring adult social care costs, the centres reduces demand on statutory social care and health services.

The meeting was told the executive needed to reconsider funding for the scheme as it had been downsized in advance of Hambleton council rejecting it, meaning costs had been pushed up. Nevertheless, members heard the scheme provided “exciting investment projects for the town”.

As leading members of the county authority agreed to be “financially prudent” by putting funding in place should the planning appeal against district council’s decision be successful, executive members stressed they were in no way challenging the right of the district council to reject the scheme.

Adult social care executive member Councillor Michael Harrison said: “I want to make it clear we respect that local planning function and process and the decision on setting up the funding is entirely reliant on that planning process.”