A SCHEME for nine new homes on a site in Masham - four of them affordable - caused a split vote by planning councillors.

Three members of an area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council voted in favour of the project at Sunnyside in Red Lane while three were against.

Committee chairman Councillor Nigel Simms (Masham) gave his casting vote in favour of the scheme.

But it will need to go before the committee again, next month, because it went against the planning officer's recommendation.

Masham Parish Council did not object to the scheme, but regretted that a greenfield site was being used for housing.

Letters of objection from the public expressed concern about loss of trees, lack of parking and the new homes being over-dominant.

The revised application was tabled by Mr and Mrs J Airton