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Controversial homes plan approved
Councillors said they felt like they had a pistol held against their heads when they approved a controversial housing scheme in Hellifield.
Craven District Council's planning committee gave approval to Yorkshire Housing to build 22 social and affordable homes on Station Road at a meeting on Monday.
Some councillors wanted to defer the decision to address a number of issues. The project is eligible for funding from the Housing Corporation but, to get the money, work must begin by the end of March.
Coun Stephen Butcher said: "Once again we've had a pistol held to our heads. It's disgraceful."
One source of concern was that Station Road was unadopted.
Coun Paul Whitaker said: "How can you put affordable housing at the end of a dirt track? It's totally wrong"
Sian Watson, head of planning and building control, said although Station Road was outside the application site and therefore out of the control of Yorkshire Housing, the company was not against bringing the road up to an adoptable standard. But, because the residents own Station Road, at least half would have to agree to the improvements. Mrs Watson said bringing the road up to adoptable standards could be unachievable.
| “Once again we’ve had a pistol held to our heads. It’s disgraceful.” | | Coun Stephen Butcher |
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Councillors were also concerned two of the houses would block the entrance to a telephone exchange, and the parish council had called for the affected properties, numbers 21 and 22, to be taken out of the proposals.
However, the issue was left with the owners of the land and the council to resolve.
David Stott, from the parish council, said the aim was to build affordable housing to enable low-income families in the village to get on the property ladder.
He said only 13 per cent of the homes were for low-cost ownership and the rest was social housing.
"Hellifield is not the place for social housing when there are so few social services," he said.
The parish council was also concerned that amenities would not be able to cope with the extra housing and 30 proposed parking spaces would not be adequate for the 92 people who could live there.
Bob Moore, of the Hellifield Village Planning Group, said the group's key concern was that Station Road would be used for drainage of the site and the road was not up to it.
However, councillors voted in favour of the application and gave officers the power to approve it, subject to a number of conditions.
These include a £10,000 donation from Yorkshire Housing to construct a puffin crossing on the A65 and a further £20,000 towards the provision of open space in the village.
Also, they ruled that three of the properties must always be offered for sale at a discounted rate. The remaining homes are for rent.
12:29pm Friday 15th February 2008
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