Parish councillors in Flaxby have called on the government to refuse a proposal for a nine-home eco-development in the village.

Holmes Planning Ltd has appealed a decision by Harrogate Borough Council to refuse the development off York Road.

It would have seen houses built to environmental standards and include solar panels, air-source heat pumps and super-tight insulation. The houses were planned to be custom built.

Following refusal by the authority, the developer took the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

However, in a letter to the government, Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council said the previous reasons for refusal still stand.

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It added that a lack of custom build homes in the district was “simply not enough of a justification to permit the building of nine individual self-build houses on the land in question”.

The letter said:

“We are parish councillors, ordinary people with neither the skills nor the knowledge to quote such housing policies inside out, simply representing the residents of Flaxby, whose homes and lives would be detrimentally affected should this planning appeal be approved.”

But, in documents submitted for the challenge, the developer argued that there were not enough custom build developments in the district.

It said:

“The appellant submits that the custom self-build deficit is so severe, and likely to get worse, that this material consideration outweighs any departure from the Harrogate District Local Plan and that the appeal site is suitable for custom self-build and the appeal, if allowed, would be secured for custom self-build through the Unilateral Undertaking.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

A developer has appealed a decision to refuse plans for nine new eco-homes near Flaxby.

Holmes Planning Ltd submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council for the development in October 2021.

It would have seen houses built to environmental standards and include solar panels, air-source heat pumps and super-tight insulation.

It also included self-build and custom homes on the site at York Road in Flaxby.

The council rejected the plan on the grounds that it was outside the development boundary, the affect on the character of the area and because the number of homes was below the council’s requirement per hectare.

However, the developer has appealed the decision to the government.

Read more:

• Eco-development could be catalyst for green housing in Harrogate district
• Plan submitted to demolish Bilton garages for social housing

In documents submitted for the challenge, the developer argued that there was not enough custom build developments in the district.

It said:

“The appellant submits that the custom self-build deficit is so severe, and likely to get worse, that this material consideration outweighs any departure from the Harrogate District Local Plan and that the appeal site is suitable for custom self-build and the appeal, if allowed, would be secured for custom self-build through the Unilateral Undertaking.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the plan at a later date.