Villages ‘will become one’
Seamer and Irton will be ‘joined’ in new plans
A plan for new homes will effectively merge the villages of Seamer and Irton without a green barrier, it is feared.
Scarborough Council has granted permission for 240 new homes in Seamer despite residents objecting to the scheme.
On Thursday the authority’s planning and development committee gave the thumbs up to Linden to build on two parcels of land at Napier Crescent and Beacon Road off Stoney Haggs Road, creating 241 new dwellings.
At the same meeting, outline plans for up to 40 homes on land at Limestone Road, Burniston, were rejected due to concerns over flooding.
In total, 130 letters of objection to the plans were submitted to the council.
Cllr Helen Mallory spoke out on behalf of the residents.
She said: “There is genuine concern that this development will effectively join the villages of Seamer and Irton into one large village, there will no longer be that green barrier that separates the two.
“There are a lot of concerns about the increase in traffic. The mini-roundabout in Stoney Haggs Road is the second worst accident blackspot in the coun36 ty, there have been 27 accidents there since Christmas.
“A recent cost analysis to make the junction safe put the figure at £1 million. This plan includes just £160,000 for some traffic lights.”
The committee were concerned about the overall look of the development.
Cllr David Jeffels called the scheme “pedestrian”, lamenting the impact the design would have on the look of the area.
The committee was told that of the 241 homes would be classed as affordable.
However, Cllr Eric Broadbent said the council needed to build houses and residents would have to accept some encroachment.
He said: “Planning laws have changed, councils are being encouraged to build houses where previously they may have said no.
“If we are going to keep growing and expanding the borough then we need houses.
“If we don’t we are going to jigger our granddaughters and daughters when it comes to them wanting to get their own place, they cannot live at home forever.”
Muston councillor Godfrey Allanson warned that the council must not be driven solely by hitting its housing numbers, with more than 10,000 homes required in the borough over the next decade.
He added: “Just to get our numbers we are at risk of obliterating our communities.”
The committee back the plans by a majority decision.
However, it was not so kind to the plans for Limestone Road.
Councillors said they saw two springs during a site visit and couldn’t grant permission until flooding issues had been addressed.