A DISUSED playing field is being proposed as a site to build 41 new homes in the north of the district.

The full planning application for a mix of 41, one, two, three and four-bed houses has been lodged with Craven District Council.

The development site comprises two parcels of land off Lord’s Close, in Giggleswick, the northern parcel currently a cricket pitch and pavilion and the southern parcel being a disused playing field.

Lord’s Close lies to the west of the southern aspect of the site with Sandholme Close to the east. The two existing developments are currently separated by the former playing field which measures 1.26 hectares. There is a footpath separating the north and south plots.

The application seeks permission for a mix of two and two-and-a-half storey homes, 12 of which are earmarked as affordable. The affordable element is proposed as being two one-bed semi detached homes; six two-bed terraced and four three-bed semi detached homes.

The remaining 29 open market houses will be made up of three two-bed terraced, three three-bed detached, four three-bed semi detached, 13 three-bed semi detached/terraced (2.5 storey), four four-bed detached with integral garages and two four-bed detached homes.

In addition, the application proposes associated landscaping and infrastructure works, with a replacement sports pavilion, car parking and improvements to sports pitches on land to the north of the residential site.

The proposal seeks to retain the use of the northern parcel as a cricket pitch with a new sports pavilion and car park to serve the cricket and rugby pitches – served from a new access from Bankwell Road – including purpose-built changing and recreational facilities.

The applicant, Giggleswick School and Wellesley Homes, in its design and access statement said: “The scale of the proposed dwellings are in keeping with the local character and scale.”

The proposed replacement sports pavilion will be single storey. The applicants add that a public consultation on the plans was held in May at Eshton Pavilion.

The application was lodged with the district council on November 30. Comments have yet to be received from nearby residents and Giggleswick Parish Council.

Details of design state the properties will be built with reconstituted stone to walls; pitched roofs in grey concrete tiles with white uPVC double glazed windows; Artstone window heads and sills to front elevations and surrounds to key windows; Artstone dentils to front elevations and Artstone quoin surrounds to some front doors.

The application states the site is not in a conservation area and there are no listed buildings on site. The application form adds the development will not increase flooding risk to the vicinity.

It also states on-site parking provision is being made for 107 cars.

New access to the sports area taken from Bankwell Road will offer ‘improved pedestrian access and a car park which will alleviate the on-street parking issues along Bankwell Road’.

The proposals also include the resurfacing of Lord’s cricket pitch to give a flatter playing surface.

The sports pavilion and car park have been sited outside of the root protection area of the adjacent mature tree which will be retained. Access to the residential site will be from Lord’s Close.

There is no date yet for the application to be determined by the planning committee.

The application is referenced 2021/23539/FUL and can be viewed on the council’s planning portal.