PLANS by Persimmon Homes to build 98 homes on farmland off Aldersley Avenue, Skipton are once again being recommended for approval at Monday’s meeting of Craven planners.

Members of Craven District Council’s Planning Committee will be told following the refusal of the application in February- against officer recommendation and on a single point - a revised scheme was submitted which in July was deferred for Persimmon to address concerns of overlooking homes in Moorview Way.

Now, despite changes to the application, which includes 20 affordable properties, and supporting evidence from a civil and structural engineering consultant, regarding the site levels and gradients, Skipton Town Council has repeated its objection, along with nearby residents.

In its objection, the town council questions the need for a development of such a size given the emerging Craven Local Plan -which is currently being scrutinised by a Government planning inspector in Skipton - and also the number of proposed housing developments being considered. Town councillors are also ‘extremely concerned’ at the impact of the development on the ‘already stretched highways infrastructure’.

“The impact of the development already under way at Elsey Croft has not yet been ascertained and, given that the proposed new development has a single access which will ultimately feed onto Shortbank Road, the council must raise a serious concern as to whether the infrastructure could cope,” says the council.

Planners at Monday’s meeting will hear that the site is allocated in the draft Craven Local Plan for a hundred houses. They will also hear that although it is noted that objectors still consider the plan unacceptable, in officers opinion, there are no grounds to refuse the application.