CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 28 homes on the edge of a village have been approved by a planning inspector.

Brafferton Manor Farmers had appealed to the Secretary of State against the decision of Hambleton District Council to refuse its application to build 28 homes on the edge of Brafferton, near Thirsk.

Planning inspector Helen Cassini was moved to allow the appeal and grant planing permission, despite concerns about the size of the scheme and over safety concerns of the access road.

The developer said the proposal for the 1.2-hectare site, which lies outside the village’s development limit and beside a conservation area, would provide numerous “economic, social and environmental benefits”, included much-needed affordable housing.

In addition, in its planning application, the developer said the council could not demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, a claim the authority has rejected saying its land supply for housebuilding was greater than eight years.

If a planning authority cannot show it is meeting the requirement, its residential development policies are considered out of date and, leaving all but the most inappropriate housing applications likely to be overturned at appeal.

The scheme was rejected after planners heard residents’ safety concerns over the access to the site, which is close to an blind bend in the road.

Other objections included ones over sewerage capacity and increased use of storm overloads discharging to the River Swale.

Reacting to the decision, local councillor Caroline Patmore said: "We have to respect the planning inspector's decision, but I do still have concerns about the access road.

"Traffic always goes very fast, it is a slightly blind bend, and there is a footpath but it is very narrow and it isn't one you would want to walk along."

Ms Cassini said: "As an undeveloped site, the land makes a positive contribution to the open countryside and there is no doubt that the transformation to built development would change that character.

"However, located between The Old Parsonage and Brafferton Manor, the site represents a gap site in what becomes a relatively built up frontage on the approach into the village, and it would, appear as infilling between The Old Parsonage and Brafferton Manor in a logical form.

"The introduction of 28 dwellings would undoubtedly support existing services in the village."