Norton Town Council calls for Lakeside housing rejection

Plans have been put forward to North Yorkshire Council for outline permission for six home on the site between Springfield Garth, St Peter’s Street and Lakeside Way.

It proposes access to the new properties via St Peter’s Street. The application follows previous applications for 18, 23 and 8 houses on the site, all of which were rejected.

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Di Keal, Mayor of Norton on Derwent said: “It is disappointing to see yet another attempt to gain permission for housing on this totally unsuitable site near Lakeside. Earlier applications have been quite rightly repeatedly refused and the town council has again recommended refusal to North Yorkshire Council planners and urge them to reject this latest application.

Almost 40 local people attended a recent town council meeting to object to the application and there are numerous grounds on which it should be rejected.

Cllr Keal added: “The land is a saturated much of the time and water already encroaches onto the public footpath that runs alongside the plot, which sits in Environment Agency Flood Zone 3. Any development of this land would adversely impact surrounding property by removing a vital holding area for water and would have added impact on nearby homes from the run-off of water from the creation of hard surfaces that the development would create.

“The development would cut right across a heavily used public footpath, part of a network of safe shortcuts away from traffic that are used by dozens of people daily, including children going to local schools.

“But perhaps the most shocking aspect of the application is proposing accessing the site via the already congested St Peter’s Street, which would be a further hazard to pedestrians and motorists and make it virtually impossible for emergency services vehicles to use the street.

“The town council has asked that the application be brought before the Thirsk & Malton Planning Committee rather than be a decision made by a council officer.

“Given the weight of resident objections, the vulnerability of the land to flooding, and the damaging impact development would have on the area, I hope the application will be firmly rejected.”

North Yorkshire Councillor for Norton Cllr Keane Duncan, said: “Residents are rightly concerned about this application, with more than 40 objections already submitted, alongside Norton Town Council’s response.

“Key issues include the proposed access via St Peter’s Street, the impact on the well‑used snicket to Lakeside, and unresolved flooding and drainage risks.

“I am working with residents to ensure these serious matters are fully examined and properly addressed.”