Council refuses Cowling housing development

Wednesday, 28 June 2023 14:49

By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter

North Yorkshire Council has refused a bid to build three homes on a piece of agricultural land in Cowling.

Proposals included three 3-bedroom properties on land next to Fold Lane as well as space for allotments so residents could grow their own vegetables. A new access point off Fold Lane was proposed.

A previous plan for five homes on the site, which is on agricultural land south of the A6068, was withdrawn last year.

The application received 33 objections from villagers with 2 letters of support. Cowling Parish Council also objected to the scheme citing concerns about traffic.

Despite a report published by a transport specialist stating the plans would result in no detrimental impact for local roads, several letters of objection said the scheme would increase traffic in the village, which has a population of 2,355.

Others raised concerns that the scheme was the first step towards developing more of the green field in the future.

One objector said the scheme would put pressure on local services:

“The surrounding roads cannot handle the increase in traffic and also for parking. The school is already oversubscribed with many children already in the village not getting a place. The doctors etc are all at breaking point and adding more houses & families will put even more pressure.”

The developer, who was not named in planning documents, argued through its planning agent Preston Barker Planning, that the homes were needed in Cowling and would help to meet the council’s housing targets.

But the council disagreed, stating in its refusal letter that it already had sufficient supply of housing planned. It added:

“Whilst a small site can contribute to meeting the housing requirements of an area, the provision of three additional dwellings would not make a substantial difference.”

The council also said the site is not allocated for development within Craven’s Local Plan, the plans ‘fail to make effective and efficient use of land’ and it would harm the Cowling conservation area due to changes to a stone wall.

The developer can appeal the decision.