Villagers’ plea over stately home plan

DEVELOPMENT: Villagers have urged a council to prevent the owners of a stately home from “sacrificing” their ancient settlement to secure the future of the historic property.

Householders in Coxwold have claimed the plans will spoil the character of the Domesday Book village and increase the risk of flooding to their homes.

VILLAGERS HAVE urged planners to prevent the owners of a North York Moors stately home, which is said to be the final resting place of Oliver Cromwell, from “sacrificing” their ancient settlement to secure the future of the historic property.

Householders in Coxwold have claimed Newburgh Priory’s housing development plans, which its owners claim are essential to generate funds to maintain the Grade

I listed Tudor property, will spoil the character of the Domesday Book village and increase the risk of flooding to their homes and the village hall.

The former Augustinian priory, which was founded on land granted by William the Conqueror and sold by Henry VIII for £1,062 in 1562, has been passed down the Wombwell family for centuries and is now in need of significant repairs.

However, in papers submitted to the North York Moors National Park Authority over the application, villagers have objected to the plan as they fear building on a field will increase the number and intensity of floods around the proposed development site off Byland Road.

Resident Simon Le Gassicke, who lives in the village, said: “The proposals will severely damage the appearance of our village, creating an abrupt entrance to an urban area. There has been considerable growth of our village in recent decades and development is now near saturation.

“Although I appreciate the advantages of the proposed development of Newburgh Priory, I am not sure Coxwold needs to be sacrificed rather than seek an alternative form of finance.”

To provide the funding to secure the future of the 12th century estate, the Wombwell family hopes to expand visitor accommodation and create a function suite for weddings, parties and corporate events in redundant buildings, works for which Hambleton District Council approved earlier this year.

To fund the work, the estate has proposed four housing developments, including two in nearby Coxwold, one of which is an affordable housing scheme, while the other seeks to develop a grassed parcel of land in the village’s conservation area, opposite the village hall for four ‘principal residence’ homes.

Some residents of the village best known as the residence of 18th century Tristram Shandy novelist, the Rev Laurence Sterne, said the housing schemes were sorely needed in the area to attract young families and reverse population decline in the National Park.

Recommending the plans for approval, officers from the National Park authority said the housing schemes would benefit the local community, provide funding for essential repairs of a designated heritage asset and “would not harm the character and setting of the village of Coxwold or its conservation area”.

The proposals will damage the appearance of our village.

Coxwold resident Simon Le Gassicke.