Fresh consultation on Dales proposed housing sites

A public consultation has opened today on potential housing development sites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

A total of 23 “preferred” sites are being put forward for the building of around 370 homes.

Taken together with existing planning permissions for dwellings that have yet to be built, allocating the 23 sites would significantly contribute to the target for 50 new homes every year in the National Park until 2040 (*see ‘Note to Newsdesk’ below).

It is the second time the National Park Authority has consulted on housing sites as part of preparations for a new Local Plan.  In March last year, 33 potential sites were identified for 600 homes. This list has now been refined down: some sites have been removed, some have been reduced in size and two new sites have been added. This includes changes to sites in Grassington, Threshfield and Embsay, which were the subject of most comments during the last consultation.

The changes are a result of detailed work carried out by a group of Authority Members. This has included considering the public comments from the earlier consultation; re-evaluating sites that were previously dismissed; re-consulting North Yorkshire and Westmorland and Furness Councils; re-consulting Yorkshire Water and United Utilities about water supplies and sewage infrastructure capacity; and re-consulting a range of other specialist consultees.

Member Champion for Sustainable Development at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Richard Foster said: “It is abundantly clear from the evidence we have gathered that we need more affordable housing, and more permanently occupied homes, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  That’s what we want our new Local Plan to deliver.  

“We must also conserve and enhance the nationally-important landscape of the National Park, and protect communities from unsustainable development.   We have listened and responded to many of the concerns people expressed in the consultation last year.  The further, detailed information provided by the Councils, utility companies and others showed that some of the 33 sites were not suitable for development, and others needed to be refined to reduce the development footprint.

“I would encourage all interested parties to respond to our latest Local Plan consultation.  These sites will deliver around 370 dwellings – and, crucially, many of these will be affordable housing.  When added to planning permissions that have already been granted, this will go a long way towards meeting the 750 target between now and 2040. 

“It has not been possible to get an even spread of sites across the National Park. There are fewer sites in the north because fewer options for development were put forward by landowners there.  Sites in the north also tend to be smaller because the constraints around landform, landscape and flood risk are greater. We will now be working closely with the Housing Authorities and Housing Associations to identify future ‘exception’ sites for affordable housing in the north of the National Park.

“Our intention is to publish a full draft Local Plan early next year.  It will contain not only housing development sites but a full suite of policies designed to shape development in the National Park.”

The consultation is open until Tuesday 29 October and can be found at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/localplanconsultation7