ANOTHER edge of town housing development for Skipton has been agreed by Craven planners.

Outline plans for up to 28 homes on a triangular piece of land between the A65 and the A6131 Knaresborough Road - at the top of The Bailey - were agreed at Craven District Council’s planning committee.

Concerns were however raised about the cumulative amount of traffic generated by the development and the impact on the junction with the A65, where a fatal accident took place last year.

The houses will be built at Crookrise - on a greenfield site opposite Hawbank field, where outline plans for 140 homes were agreed in February.

The site runs alongside a field where planning permission to develop a caravan park was allowed on appeal in August, 2016, and is close to Overdale trailer park.

The meeting heard that access will be off Knaresborough Road and a new pedestrian footway will be created from the houses and linking up with the existing footpath running alongside the site. It is proposed that 30 per cent of the homes will be affordable.

The site is outside the development limits of the town, but included in the emerging local plan for residential development.

The Rural Solutions agent for developer RN Woolers and Co, said there had been no objections to the proposed development from statutory consultees, including North Yorkshire highways, from Skipton Town Council, or from a single Skipton resident.

He said 200 additional trees and a hedge would be planted as part of the development and that it would contribute to the area’s housing needs.

Skipton councillor Chris Rose said she had concerns about the junction with the A65 and the impact of traffic generated from the new developments.

“The junction is bad at the present time, and will get worse with the additional traffic. Highways need to get to grips with the fact that that junction is dangerous,” she said.

Committee vice chairman, Cllr Ian Thompson, asked how sure could the council be in achieving 30 per cent affordable properties as part of the development, and was told the starting point for negotiating with the developer would be 30 per cent.

Councillors approved outline plans on the understanding that the developer agree to making a £100,000 contribution to the provision of off site public open space.