175 new homes approved, after Government over-rules council

Planning officers have expressed concerns after a council was overruled on decisions over two large-scale housing developments on the green belt.Hambleton District Council has lost out twice this year at planning appeals after it failed to convince a planning inspector of its ability to deliver its five-year housing supply set out by government.The latest successful appeal was for permission to build on land in Easingwold, outside the Local Development Framework – just months after a previous planning appeal over an out-of-town development in Stokesley has also been successful. Planning officers fear a precedent has now been set for developers wanting to build in areas outside of the district’s development boundaries.In September a planning inspector ruled in favour of 226 homes being built in Tanton Road, on the outskirts of Stokesley; and this month another ruled a development for 175 homes off Stillington Road in Easingwold.Mark Harbottle, Hambleton council’s head of planning and housing, said it was frustrating for planning officers who work on delivering appropriate sites for development – but said the main problem was still down to the credit crunch.