More affordable homes in Wensleydale and 5G for Coverdale

The National Park Planning Committee has approved an application to erect a phone mast for 5G technology in Coverdale and application to build five affordable homes in Bainbridge .

Owing to legal challenges brought by some residents against earlier plans, Hornblower Developments Ltd brought a fresh application seeking to build the homes for shared ownership in partnership with a housing association.  It’s the third time in four years that the committee has voted in favour a development near the Rose and Crown pub. 

Member Champion for Development Management, Jim Munday, said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to approve more new affordable homes in the National Park. Because this is shared ownership housing, it means that a young couple only need to be able to afford 25% of the cost of the house in order to get a foot on the housing ladder. Shared ownership will enable local people to buy a modern home that they otherwise might not be able to afford.

“The developer has shown great patience in the face of local campaigns that have made this development really challenging and I commend the company’s resolve to build good quality affordable homes for local people. We need a wide range of different affordable housing types across the National Park as well as more sites, such as the one in West Witton that is now nearing completion.”   

Separately, the planners made a unanimous decision to approve the erection of a mast to enable a trial of 5G technology in Coverdale, Mr Munday said: “The Committee was satisfied that the new mast in Coverdale would not have a significant detrimental impact on the landscape. We know how important it is for North Yorkshire County Council to provide super-fast mobile connectivity to local communities. Hopefully, the challenges faced by home workers, home schoolers and companies looking to access reliable