IF developers are given approval to build homes off Shires Lane, Embsay, they will gift the nearby sports pitch to the local football club.

An outline plan has been drawn up for the construction of 33 houses, with 40 per cent being affordable homes.

It has been prepared by developers N and P Hargreaves and RN Wooler.

Villagers recently joined Embsay Parish Councillor Laurie Sutherland, lead member on land development matters, on a site visit.

About 20 residents turned up at the ground which is, at present, let to the community at a peppercorn rent and extends from Shires Lane to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway.

Prominent views from the proposed development are of the vertical rock face cut out of the hillside during past quarry workings.

It is described in Craven District Council's landscape character assessment as "managed pastoral" land bounded by an area of "disturbed landscapes".

Coun Sutherland said: "I encouraged people to express their opinions of the proposal whether they are for or against the scheme. We want people to show an interest in the village.

"We are not against housing development but the village does have historical problems relating to drainage."

A design statement published by Rural Solutions, nationwide planning and development specialists, says the land is at present grazed by sheep.

The landscape was not a "natural one" unlike the prominent moorland landscape to the north of Embsay.

There was opportunity to create a high quality, low density development with a central green area and landscaping.

As part of the development, the football field is proposed to be gifted towards the football club and the community.