Council rejects affordable housing plans

Plans for 102 new affordable homes near an Army base have been rejected due to "poor design" and "inadequate landscaping".

North Yorkshire Council said the proposed development, which would have been based on land north of Catterick Road, between Catterick Garrison and Colburn, failed "to reflect local character" or create a "high-quality residential environment".

Local councillor Kevin Foster said he was "pleased" the concerns of objectors had been "upheld".

He added: "This proposal simply did not meet the standards our communities expect and deserve.

"We need new homes, but they must be the right homes, in the right place, built to the right standard."

The scheme had been put forward by Keepmoat Homes and landowner Rupert Hildyard, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

All the homes would have been classed as "affordable" with a mix of social rent and shared ownership properties.

But in a decision notice, the council's head of development management, Martin Grainger, said: "The proposal does not achieve a safe or secure environment for future residents with regards to designing out crime."

A lack of children's play provision and an unacceptable loss of existing trees were also cited as factors in the refusal.

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