Green light for major schemes in Selby

Plans have been approved for two major schemes - a large scale development at Olympia Park and the development of Selby Marina - and yesterday Selby District Council said it was committed to deliver new business opportunities.

The Olympia Park development site between the A19 and Hull-Leeds railway line at Barlby was given approval for full planning permission for part of the area and outline permission for the rest. Overall, the development will deliver over 800 new homes, including a number of new affordable properties, as well as retail opportunities and a new school, alongside recreational areas and community facilities.

This important gateway site to Selby is one of the key development sites identified in the district in the long-term.

The leader of the council, Coun Mark Crane, added: “This is a clear signal we are sending out that the district is open for business and ready to take advantage of new opportunities.

“The developments will deliver homes, boost job opportunities and the local economy by significantly rejuvenating both these areas.”

It is hoped the Selby Marina will also help bring in visitors to the district, which has a wider knock-on economic benefit for the whole district.

Immowell NV, has secured outline permission to develop the former Rigid Paper site which closed in March 2010 and the site has since been cleared of buildings.

The plans have been revised and propose 302 homes, reduced from the 401 originally proposed, alongside retail and leisure space and a 32 berth marina.

It is hoped that the marina scheme will prove a major boost to tourism in the area.

A report to members of the council’s planning committee said: “The scheme is considered to represent a unique opportunity for the district which would provide a mix of development which would assist in the regeneration of the town and have wider benefits for the district in terms of tourism and economic development.

Some objections were received to the marina scheme with fears raised it will lead to congestion and problems with parking in the area.

The two major new developments for the Selby district have been given the go ahead by Selby District Council’s Planning Committee.

Richard Cooper applied for permission to transform the Olympia Park site.

Those raising concerns included Barlby and Osgodby Parish Council who were concerned about the housing development on the south side of the railway line. It said industry should be a priority over housing and councillors also said the River Ouse had historically flooded approximately every 50 years and it had “grave concerns” because the development was in the loop of the river and “overtopping and inundation” was a very high risk.

Other objectors also raised fears including worries the local transport network could not cope.

In a report officers said, however, that a flood assessment of the site has been carried out and it concluded that the site “will be safe in its lifetime.”

The application site is bound to the north by Barlby Road with the River Ouse and its associated flood defences beyond this road. Along the southern boundary of the site the Leeds to Hull railway line runs east to west.

The news comes just a month after plans to create one and quarter million square feet of new business space at the Proving Ground, at Sherburn-in-Elmet were approved - another significant boost for jobs in the district.

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