Nature reserve housing scheme rejected

A plan to build 110 houses on the edge of a North Yorkshire village has been rejected amid concerns about its impact on ancient woodland.

However, two other nearby developments, which would see 285 houses constructed on the edge of Thorpe Willoughby, near Selby, have been approved despite 80 objections being submitted to the council.

North Yorkshire Council's Selby and Ainsty area planning committee said concerns were raised about the impact of all three schemes on the Brayton Barff nature reserve.

However, they said the Field Lane scheme was rejected because it would have been closer to the woodland than two proposed developments near Leeds Road.

Councillor Arnold Warneken said he believed the Field Lane scheme, which would have been 500 yards (457m) from Brayton Barff, a reservoir surrounded by woodland, would have had "a greater impact" on the nature reserve.

Councillor Bob Packham said the housing plan would have been "unacceptable in terms of its impact on landscape".

"I think it is also unacceptable in terms of its impact on the structure of the settlement in that it's completely the wrong side of Field Lane — that area should remain undeveloped."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service members of the committee told a meeting on Wednesday they were worried about the "cumulative impact" of all three developments on the area, including the size of the development being too big for the village

However, committee chair Councillor John Cattanach said he could see no reason why the two applications to the north and south of Leeds Road should be refused as they seemed "to fall within more natural boundaries".

Councillors voted unanimously to reject the Field lane application.

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