Councillors have again called for independent evidence that a proposed 1,500-home development on the edge of a North Yorkshire town should only include ten per cent affordable housing.
Members of North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee today (Tuesday, August 11) voted for a second time to defer a decision on the outline application for land at Weeland Road, Eggborough.
Councillors had previously voted for deferral for officers to produce an independent study of how much affordable housing was appropriate for the site.
The meeting was told that officers had not compiled the report because they believed their recommendation to approve the scheme with a minimum of ten per cent affordable housing complied with policy.
The committee voted to again seek an assessment, despite warnings that this could lead the developer, Banks, to appeal to the national Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination by the council.
Councillor Andy Brown said the committee was dealing with a “commuter belt application next to a station” and was being asked to use the valuations of the lowest value property in Selby to calculate the level of affordable homes that should be built.
He added: “I am not taking the view here that there should be no development. Nor am I taking a view that I know exactly what the financials of this are, and I can put a precise number on what the affordable should be.
“What I’m stating is that nobody in this room is in a position to have accurate independent figures on what the cost benefit analysis of it is and what the potential for affordables are — and it is deeply irresponsible of us to make a decision without up-to-date information of that.”
Councillor Derek Bastiman also supported the deferral.
He said: “I’m grateful for officers advising us of the risks we take, but we are elected members and we take risk with every decision we make in this chamber and any other building.
“But difficult decisions are made easier when we’ve got all the relevant facts as we requested last time, and we didn’t get everything we asked for
“I’m not against development on the site, but I’ll only make a decision when I’ve got all the relevant information.”
While some councillors called for the scheme to be approved, other councillors voted for it to be rejected.
Councillor John McCartney said: “This Banks application wins first prize for stupidity. There is no evidence to show that there is any need for 1,500 homes in the south of the Selby locality, despite all the waffle in the officer’s report.
“This huge estate will instantly become a commuter belt, with 3,000 bombing off every morning, getting stuck at the level crossing, and joining a long queue to get onto the M62.”
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The application seeks outline permission for a major mixed-use development comprising up to 1,500 homes, together with a primary school, local centre, employment land, public open space, sports pitches and associated infrastructure.
The committee report states that the independent review supports the developer’s position and that the proposed Section 106 agreement would continue to secure the ten per cent affordable housing provision alongside contributions towards education, highways, healthcare, open space and other local infrastructure.
If approved, the development would become one of the largest housing schemes in North Yorkshire and would be built over a number of phases.
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