Fears are growing that a planned new housing estate which has been changed to consist entirely of affordable rent and shared ownership homes, will not be for local people.

The scheme at Northallerton Road, Leeming Bar, near Bedale is for 82 homes. Planning permission had been approved for Wharfedale Homes to build the estate, which originally had 40 per cent affordable homes.

However a new application has been submitted to change the conditions to 100 per cent affordable rent and shared ownership by the developers, who say they are building it on behalf of Together Housing, a Halifax-based housing association which manages more than 36,000 homes across the North of England.

But residents and Aiskew and Leeming Bar parish council are concerned that the homes will not be for local people.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s just not on, the concern is that people will be brought in from outside the area rather than the houses being for people in the Bedale, Aiskew, Leeming Bar and Northallerton areas.

“We want good quality housing in this area, why aren’t they building them for the local housing association Broadacres, which provides homes to people from this area? This all seems to be being pushed through and there are a lot of questions.”

Councillor Neil Pocklington, chairman of the parish council, said it has lodged an objection to the application as it seeks further clarification about the proposals. It wants reassurance that if the application is successful, priority will be given to local people.

The Northern Echo:

Another member of the public who left comments on the planning website said: “I believe this is to be developed by Together Housing who already have properties in the village despite being based out of the area. I would hope that the criteria for rent or shared ownership of these properties is that the people have connections with the village.”

The amended application has been backed by Hambleton Housing Service managers, now part of the new North Yorkshire Council. They say: “The affordable homes will contribute towards meeting evidenced need. There are currently 282 households on the council’s Housing Register requiring accommodation in the Bedale hinterland which includes Leeming Bar.”

The house design and sizes will be split between one bedroom flats, two, three and four bedroomed houses and two bedroomed bungalows.

Chris Watson, Together Housing group programme manager for New Business, said: “Together Homes (part of Together Housing Group) are working in partnership with the local authority and Wharfedale Homes to bring 82 much needed affordable homes to Leeming Bar. The design and architecture will remain the same as per the planning approved scheme offering high quality affordable homes to local residents addressing the high demand on the council’s waiting list in the local area.

"Wharfedale Homes, headquartered in Knaresborough, specialise in bespoke, design-led new homes throughout Yorkshire and was founded over 29 years ago. Together Housing Association is a trusted housing association and one of the largest in the North of England, which has a proven track record with recent schemes across Yorkshire including in Scarborough, Easingwold, and Howden.

"The rented homes would be managed by the association and the shared ownership homes sold by Together Homes, part of the group. Together Homes are seeking an amendment to the current planning approval which will change the proposal to a 100 per cent affordable scheme; a mix of shared ownership and rental homes.”