A SCHEME to build homes and a superstore on the edge of Colburn have been rejected by planners.

Gregory Properties was hoping to persuade Richmondshire District Council to give the go-ahead for 47 homes and a Netto supermarket to be built on the site of the Scorpion nightclub.

Planning officer Peter Featherstone told a meeting on Tuesday night that there were no objections in principle to the retail element of the application.

But since outline planning permission was granted for a supermarket on the site in 1996, the council's policies have changed, and the land is now earmarked for job-crea-tion.

The meeting was reminded that the Catterick Garrison area is likely to expand quickly in the coming years, and that consequently the Walkerville area of Colburn is likely to need more shops and community facilities.

Building more homes near the new Regents Park estate would limit the land available and could jeopardise the long-term future of the area, the meeting was told.

Planners agreed there were no reasons to depart from policies in the Richmondshire local plan and voted to reject Gregory Properties' proposals.