CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a 127-home estate on the edge of a small market town are being pushed through under the cover of the coronavirus pandemic, residents have claimed.

Leyburn residents, who have previously raised alarm over the consultation for another proposed major development in the town – a planned garden superstore and hotel – being held during lockdown, said it was unacceptable that they were being given just three weeks to scrutinise the plans and voice their views.

Yorvik Homes lodged a planning application with Richmondshire District Council for 103 two, three and four-bedroom houses and 24 bungalows at Hill Top Farm, Moor Road, in March, having consulted with residents over plans for the site last year.

In planning documents, the developer said it would provide a wide range of houses to address housing needs of the area, including 29 per cent affordable housing, as well as three areas of open space, including a children’s playground, across one hectare.

Residents said more than 50 members of the public had attended a Leyburn Town Council meeting about the plans in November to raise objections over “inadequate road access, the risk of causing more flooding in the town, and pressure on local health services and schools”.

They said they were promised a further public consultation and Richard Sanderson, chairman of the town council, said: “People need an opportunity to voice an opinion. This is a big thing for the town.”

Objections to the scheme have already been submitted, with one resident stating: “The developers seem to have considered the ‘safety needs’ of the new residents but at the expense of Moor Road residents.”

Residents said while the application was likely to be discussed at an online town council meeting, it had not been confirmed whether a public question and answer session with Yorvik Homes would go ahead.

Derek Riley, a former town councillor, said: “The planning notices were pinned to lampposts on May 7, with a closing date for comment of May 29, with two bank holidays in between. Under the current lockdown this is outrageous.”

Mr Riley said the May 29 cut off date for public comment was “wholly unacceptable” because the developers and the chairman of Richmondshire District Council’s planning committee Councillor John Amsden had committed to further public meetings and site visits.

He said: “As we are still under lockdown there is no way any public consultation meetings can take place locally with Leyburn town council, centrally with Richmondshire council, or with the developers.”

Another local resident, Keith Dickinson, who has led a long-running campaign to improve safety on Moor Road, said it was clear at the meeting in November that many Leyburn residents had very strong opinions and misgivings about the proposed development. “It is completely unacceptable for this application to be submitted in the middle of a national emergency when the people of Leyburn are in lockdown,” he said.

A district council spokesman said four site notices had been displayed around the site, neighbour notices had been sent out and as it was a major application it had been advertised in a newspaper.

He added: “The Government is clear that planning applications need to be advertised in accordance with statutory regulations for a period of 21 days.

“For this application the regulations have been followed and the application advertised accordingly.”

Cllr Amsden said he had raised concerns over the process for the proposals with planning officers, but there were still issues that would need completing before the scheme could progress to the council’s planning committee for a decision, including site visit.

He said he understood site visits would soon go ahead providing social distancing conventions were followed.