A MAJOR new housing development in Skipton could be back on the cards if councillors agree to accept an 'enabling' grant of more than £2.3 million.

The canal side site at Horse Close, owned by Craven District Council, has been earmarked for residential development for several years, but has been dormant since 2016 after the council ended its ties with housebuilder, Lovell.

The ending of the partnership came after Lovell submitted a scheme for 88 homes instead of the planned 110 and less than half the number of affordable properties wanted by the council.

Residents close to the site were also concerned its development would lead to flooding of their properties and welcomed the rejection of the scheme even before it reached the council's planning committee.

At Tuesday's full council meeting, councillors will be asked to agree to the acceptance of a grant of £2.376 million from the Accelerated Construction Fund.

The fund is designed to help local authorities - such as Craven - overcome barriers to develop their own land.

The money will cover the costs of remediation and infrastructure works - including the building of a new bridge over the canal at Cawder Road - and so releasing land for development.

Providing councillors agree to the grant offer and to give the go-ahead to officer negotiations with the government's funder of affordable homes, Homes England, a further report setting out the development scheme, will go to the council's Policy Committee early next year.

Paul Ellis, director of services at Craven District Council, said: “Accepting the grant will allow the council to accelerate delivery of its land at Horse Close for housing, delivering a number of benefits and making an effective and efficient use of the council’s assets to provide a mix of much needed housing for our communities.”

Ward councillor Andy Solloway, said he did not oppose residential development of the site, but would be calling for measures to be put into place to stop motorists using the new bridge as a cut through between Horse Close and the Greatwood estate to Keighley Road.

"The development of Horse Close has always been on the cards because Craven District Council owns the land, and there has been three or four developers interested in the past."

He believed the latest plan was for a scheme of around 88 new homes and with homes further away from the canal side, to address potential flooding issues.