Council officers have given final approval to a major 390-house development near Ripon.
Housing developer Taylor Wimpey will oversee the scheme, which will be built on land off Whitcliffe Lane.
The former Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected the proposal in 2017, but the decision was overturned by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
Councillors deferred the scheme to officers for approval in February 2022.
Now, North Yorkshire Council has given the development the final go-ahead after discussions over internal access at the site.
A report by Andy Hough, planning officer at the authority, said “a lengthy negotiation” had taken place with the developer over the road network and consultation with the council’s highways department.
The site layout for the Ripon development.
Councillors had initially raised concern over the development and its impact on the countryside and the nearby Fountains Abbey.
At the time, Cllr Pat Marsh described the plans as being “forced upon” the area following the appeal.
She said:
“The impact on these particular areas which include a World Heritage Site that we must protect are going to be there whether we like it or not.
“I feel strongly that these reasons for refusal still stand.”
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The proposals were initially brought forward by Britain’s largest housebuilder Barratt Homes before the developers pulled out of the scheme.
The government’s housing agency Homes England and developers Taylor Wimpey then struck an £89.5m deal to acquire the site in February 2021 and get the plans back on track.
The approved plans include 156 affordable homes, 42 bungalows, cycling and walking links, a new bus route and children’s play areas.
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Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council and North Yorkshire county councillor for the Minster and Moorside division, told the Stray Ferret the works by the Make Happen Group on behalf of CityFibre had brought complaints from more than a dozen residents living on Whitcliffe Lane, Whitcliffe Drive and Elm Road.
He added:
“They are concerned about the potential dangers for both pedestrians and motorists, of accessing and leaving their properties on streets where construction work is ongoing, that have blocked off footpaths and are lined with barriers.”
A closed section of footpath on Whitcliffe Lane
Cllr Williams, who has called for intervention from North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department, which issued permits for the work to go ahead, said:
“When I visited the area at the weekend there were no road closed signs, no diversion signs in place. It was a complete mess. I even witnessed a motorist having to drive on a footpath to get around one of the contractors’ vehicles.
“On Whitcliffe Lane one side of the pavement is unavailable and on the opposite side of the road they have put the signage on the pavement advising of the roadworks thus preventing people in wheelchairs or with a pram from using it.
“They are working in three locations at once, but these are not urgent works and therefore proper road closure signs should be in place with diversions and advance warning given to local residents.”
David Black, one of the agents overlooking the installation on behalf of Make Happen Group, said:
“We operate to the the highest possible standards and our work is independently assessed, but you can never please all of the people all of the time.
“Our aim is to complete the installation quickly, efficiently and safely in a way designed to minimise disruption to residents.”
Mr Black added:
“Our work on Elm Road is now complete and will be completed soon on Whitcliffe Lane and Whitcliffe Drive.
“I have been in contact with Cllr Williams and invited him to meet with me on site. That invitation remains open.”
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