Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has said it hopes to develop a good ongoing relationship with its neighbours as work progresses on the 390-home scheme at West Lane in Ripon.

The development, which will take up to seven years to complete, borders West Lane and is close to Hell Wath local nature reserve.

It will include 156 affordable homes, ranging from single bedroom semi-detached and terraced properties to a number of four-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses.

The scheme, which was previously proposed by Barratt Homes, was granted permission at a planning appeal in 2018 after initially being refused by the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council in 2017.

Barratts subsequently pulled out of the development and in February 2021 Homes England, the government’s housing agency and Taylor Wimpey struck an £89.5m deal to acquire the site to get the plans back on track.

The 2018 appeal decision came as a blow to the Ripon Residents Planning Group, which was formed to fight the proposals and a number of them were present for a 'meet the builder' event held by Taylor Wimpey at Harrogate Road Methodist Church this month.

Their reaction to the event was mixed, with some claiming it was little more than a marketing exercise for the new homes.

One resident, who didn't want to be named said:

Jeremy Dunford, a trustee of Ripon Disability Forum, who lives close to the West Lane site, went to the event to ask questions about the number of homes that will include step-free access and be adaptable for people with limited mobility.

He discovered that more than half of the properties (140 affordable and 62 private homes) will have these facilities, while16 of the houses will be specifically designed for wheelchair users.

Mr Dunford said:

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey, said:

The spokesperson, added:

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