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Housing developer Taylor Wimpey has submitted plans to build 402 new homes in Knaresborough.

The scheme, known as Highfield Farm, would see a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes built on York Road.

It would be built near to the planned 600-home development at Manse Farm and follows a public consultation held in February.

The prospect of 1,000 new homes reignited concerns about the volume of housing being built along the A59 to the east of the town centre and whether local services can cope.

However, in documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council as part of a reserved matters application, the developer said the scheme would “ represent a highly sustainable form development”.

The site layout for Highfield Farm, as proposed by Taylor Wimpey.

The site layout for Highfield Farm, as proposed by Taylor Wimpey.

The scheme proposes a mixture of house types including bungalows, semi-detached, semi-terrace and detached homes.

It also includes agreements for 40% affordable housing and access to Highfield Farm via a roundabout, as included in the section 106 agreement.

Consultancy firm Pegasus Group, which has submitted the plan on behalf of Taylor Wimpey, said in documents lodged to the council:

“The submitted drawings show a development which sensitively integrates with the local environment, including existing built form, and ensures it is appropriate to the character and appearance of the area.

“The development has also been designed to respect the amenity of existing and future residents. It is also demonstrated that the proposals will create a mixed and balanced community.”

School delays

The submission of the plans comes as the opening of a new school to serve Manse Farm and new housing developments in the area is expected to be delayed until 2026.

North Yorkshire County Council unveiled plans for the school in 2020 as part of proposals “to serve housing growth”.

It was initially planned to open in September 2022, but was delayed twice until September 2024.

The council previously said that the project had been delayed due to an overhead electric cable that runs across the land where the school is due to be built. 

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In March this year, Amanda Newbold, assistant director for education and skills at North Yorkshire Council, told councillors that the earliest the school could be opened was September 2026.

The new school is expected to cost £6 million and serve up to 1,000 homes as part of the nearby Manse Farm developments.

Knaresborough Town Council has previously expressed frustration at the lack of progress at the school site.