Housing development backed despite fears over drainage

The proposals for the new homes – 120 of which will be affordable – in Filey have already been refused by Scarborough Council in 2006 and 2007 owing to issues over the flood risk to the new site and a lack of suitable drainage.

But despite council officers admitting they still have concerns over drainage at the 16-hectare site near Muston Road, and a feasibility study into the issue not being completed until March, a report has recommended councillors give the proposals the green light at a planning meeting this Thursday as it presents the very latest opportunity to push through the plans in order to meet strict target dates.

The recommendation, which is subject to Natural England withdrawing its current formal objection after a colony of Great Crested Newts was found on the boundary of the site, stresses that if full planning permission is not obtained by March, £2.5m funding from the Homes and Communities Agency will disappear for good.

And despite a critical need for affordable homes in the area, council officers have warned the plans may well be the only affordable homes built in Filey over the next five years.

Coun Derek Bastiman, cabinet member for strategic planning and regeneration, said: “We need to get going on this but we have got to be sure there is satisfactory drainage.

“We cannot just bodge this.

“The applicant has got to provide us with more details.

“If that funding dries up there is nothing else coming but we have got to be mindful of other people’s concerns.

“We all want to see this getting off the ground but we all must be mindful of what our responsibilities are.”

The plans also include a shop and new public open space including a fitness trail and several play areas for residents to use.

Residents and Filey Town Council have also raised their concerns at the proposals, especially over flooding issues, after 200 homes near the site were devastated by major floods in 2007.

The Town Council has also raised concerns over the impact it will have Filey’s Blue Flag status and a pilot scheme for excellent bathing water standard being aimed for by Yorkshire Water.

Natural England first submitted its objection after it claimed insufficient detail was supplied on the newt colony.

A follow up report has now been sent to the body recommending the colony is transferred to a sanctuary to the south of the site and council officers are waiting to see if the objection will be withdrawn.

Details of drainage issues at the site are expected to be delivered to councillors verbally at the planning meeting as the full report will not be available until March 11.

Coun Tom Fox, leader of Scarborough Council, said: “It is very important for the borough that we improve our percentages with regards to affordable housing and this planning application is one that can go some way to helping us meet some of the targets on homes.

“I’m very hopeful that the planning application is sufficient and strong enough to be approved and that will allow us to access grants that simply will not be there for that much longer. It is a substantial and very important development.”

Filey, like many areas across North Yorkshire, is suffering from a critical shortage in affordable housing. Currently, 12 per cent of its housing stock is affordable, compared with a regional and national average of 20 per cent.

In 2007 a report claimed Filey needed to build 87 homes over the next five years, but so far not a single one has been built.