Plans to build a town the size of Thirsk in the Harrogate district are to be assessed by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
North Yorkshire Council said in a media release today it had submitted its draft new settlement development plan for Maltkiln to the inspectorate for independent examination.
The settlement, for a minimum of 3,000 homes, would be centred on Cattal rail station 10 miles east of Harrogate. Nearby villages, including Green Hammerton, Kirk Hammerton and Whixley, would be affected. The settlement would be built by developers Caddick Group.
The draft plan gives a broad 30-year vision for Maltkiln and a policy framework to guide how it is developed. However, many residents have concerns about the lack of detail that has been released so far.
They have also expressed concerns of feeling “bullied and threatened” after the council threatened to compulsory purchase land for the scheme after a disagreement with a landowner.
Cattal Station
‘Acute need for housing’
Nic Harne, the council’s corporate director of community development, said:
“We are acutely aware of the need for more housing across the whole of North Yorkshire to meet the demand for homes so that people can choose to live in the communities that they wish to.
“The Maltkiln development is a major scheme and is aimed at addressing the housing needs in the area.
“We have now submitted documents for the independent examination, and we will wait for the inspector’s comments to see how we can then hopefully progress the development.”
The draft plan, as well as accompanying evidence and consultation responses, will now be examined by an independent inspector to assess whether it has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements and if it is ‘sound’.
In most cases the examination will include hearing sessions which are held in public. The inspector will determine the appropriate format for these sessions.
At the end of the examination, the inspector will send a report to the council recommending whether or not it can adopt the plan, and if any modifications are needed.
Today’s statement said Maltkiln would be “heavily themed around sustainability and the environment and is set to provide local amenities and facilities alongside the new homes, as well as extensive areas of open space and landscaping”.
Cllr Arnold Warneken, a Green Party member who represents Ouseburn on the council, said:
“I want to stress to residents that if they made representation to the inspector on the original document they have a right to comment on this amended document.
“I still have serious concerns about its deliverability and viability, relying on including land that is not available and thus using compulsory purchase orders is fundamentally wrong.
“There is still no agreement with Network Rail which is required to make this so called exemplar in sustainability and environmental terms.”
Read more:
- Council’s approach to Maltkiln has left locals feeling ‘bullied and threatened’
- Maltkiln land identified for compulsory purchase could be worth £170m
