Concerns over plans to build up to 450 new homes

Developers behind plans for up to 450 new homes say the proposed location is "highly sustainable" despite concerns being raised over the plans.

Keyland Developments has submitted an outline planning application to North Yorkshire Council for a new development on fields between Catterick Garrison and Colburn.

Keyland says its proposed Colburn Grange scheme would include up to 40% affordable housing and new accessible green space.

But concerns have been raised about the scheme's impact on local infrastructure.

Beth O'Hara, land and planning manager at Keyland - which is a sister company to Yorkshire Water - said: "Colburn Grange is located within a highly sustainable location.

"The masterplan has been sensitively designed to form a high-quality sustainable community, connected to established local areas, to enhance the socio-economic fabric of the wider area."

She said it would make a "significant contribution" to Colburn's affordable housing supply and they had taken on board input from recent consultations to "enhance the proposals".

However, Hipswell and Colburn councillor, Kevin Foster, claims the scheme repeats "planning failures" that saw the 102-home proposal on a neighbouring field refused.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said the previous decision made it clear the sewer network was already at capacity, local infrastructure is under strain and the "vital" separation between Colburn and Hipswell must be protected.

"None of those issues have gone away - yet this application is more than four times the size," he said.

He added that approving another 450 homes in these circumstances would put even more pressure on the road network.

"This is not a sustainable development, and approving it would be absolutely crazy and short-sighted."

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