New primary school for 1,500 homes in Eggborough, Selby

A purpose-built extra care scheme is also proposed as part of a package worth more than £20m for the development on the edge of the village of Eggborough, south of Selby.

North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee has been recommended to approve plans for the development when it meets next week

The scheme would include up to 1,500 homes, extra care housing, a local centre with shops and services, open space and new walking and cycling routes.

A contribution of around £6.5m would be made for the council to build a new primary school with at least 420 places, with a further £1.7m being used to improve primary care services.

A contribution of more than £1m would go to the new Selby Special School.

A total of 365 objections were submitted during consultation, with residents raising concerns about the scale of development, pressure on infrastructure, traffic congestion, flooding, loss of farmland and the impact on the rural character of the village.

Objectors also warned the development could reduce the separation between Eggborough and Kellington and place further strain on roads, schools and healthcare services.

Eggborough masterplan.

However, planning officers concluded the proposal should be approved because of the council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply in the former Selby district area.

In their report, officers acknowledged the development conflicts with existing countryside protection policies because the site lies outside current development limits.

But they said national planning rules requiring councils to significantly boost housing supply outweighed those concerns.

The report states the site is considered a “sustainable location” due to its position next to a designated service village and because the scheme would deliver housing, affordable homes, a school and community facilities.

The plans also include highway improvements such as a new roundabout on Weeland Road, pedestrian and cycle links, new crossings, bus stop upgrades and changes to speed limits.

Planning officers accepted the development would result in the permanent loss of more than 50 hectares of best and most versatile agricultural land and would have a significant impact on the landscape.

However, they concluded that the economic, social and housing benefits of the development outweighed the harm identified.

The application is due to be decided by councillors on Tuesday.