Concerns over traffic as town continues to expand

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS in one of Britain’s fastest growing towns are continuing to be pushed forward, despite concerns that the main route through the area has reached its limit.

Fears over the A6136 Catterick Road through Colburn and Catterick Garrison look set to be raised next week as Richmondshire District Council’s planning committee stages its first meeting since lockdown restrictions started.

Colburn is undergoing a rapid transformation as neighbouring Catterick Garrison will see Army personnel rise to 8,400 – an increase of 2,700 – over the next 14 years. Units are scheduled to begin moving to and from Catterick this year and construction has been planned to start at individual barracks next year.

The meeting will consider one of a string of plans to develop off Catterick Road – a 1,300sq metre building mainly for self-storage and warehousing. which would generate 13 full-time jobs, at Colburn Business Park. Recommending the scheme for approval, in a report planning officers said the proposed development would “not raise any severe or unacceptable issues with regards to highway safety and amenity”.

As well as hundreds of houses which are set to be built off the road, schemes yet to be decided include a plan submitted in March to build 83 homes beside the business park, 24 affordable homes on land fronting Catterick Road as part of the Colburndale estate and a scheme for a drivethrough coffee shop and three other shops nearby.

Colburn Town Council said it was pleased to see further development on the business park and supported the warehouse application, but added there was an “ongoing issue is with the levels of traffic on the A6136”.