Relax grip on homes, planners are urged

DEVELOPERS AND landowners have demanded a major re-think on future house building plans in the North York Moors National Park.

The York Diocesan Board of Finance is among those calling for a “more flexible approach” from the park authority in the interest of stabilising population levels in its towns and villages.

The board is among the respondents to a three-month consultation on the authority’s planning blueprint over the next decade.

Paul Fellows, the park authority’s head of strategic policy, says in a report to its planning committee that there has been “a strong message” from estates, developers and builders that its proposals are “overly restrictive”.

The consultation has also urged a rethink on infill building regulations, which would earmark more suitable small sites for development, and allow locations on the edge of large villages to be used for 12 or more homes.

The Diocesan Board, as well as the Mulgrave Estates in Whitby, the estate agent Savills and the builder Wharfedale Homes, urged a relaxation on housebuilding restrictions to help more young people remain in the park to live and work.

Criticism is also made of the blueprint’s ambition to designate “visually important spaces”, which homebuilders say will THE AUTHORITY which runs the North York Moors National Park has called for extra powers and resources to protect wildlife, in its response to a review of protected areas ordered by the Government.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove commissioned the study earlier in the year amid mounting frustration over the ability to respond to urgent issues. He said the UK’s declining habitats meant it was time to consider whether existing protections were sufficient.

The authority has now told him there is an “extreme” disparity between its powers to look after buildings and the landscape, and its inability to protect wildlife.

“close off” potential infill development sites in villages.

On tourism, the park’s biggest industry, calls are made to extend the holiday season by allowing longer stay lets during the autumn and winter.

Mr Fellows said many residents had expressed concern about the long-term vitality of their villages, and supported the small scale growth of housing for local people.

“People were worried about a decline in services and jobs and an ageing demographic,” he said.