House plans ‘are being approved’

AS REPORTED in The Yorkshire Post’s Dales in Crisis series, a lack of affordable homes in the Yorkshire Dales means the future sustainability of its smaller rural communities has been questioned.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s role in addressing those problems has also come in for scrutiny but chairman Carl Lis said it had taken decisions recently that should make a difference.

He said: “We are working closely with the local district councils responsible for housing, and have recently approved developments in West Witton, Bainbridge and Langthwaite. These schemes contain genuinely affordable homes.”

Following recent barn conversion projects being turned down by the authority, he urged anyone thinking about a Dales barn conversion to contact the authority first for advice on whether it fits with “locational aspects” of park policy.