Housing plans approved after 10-year wait

Plans for 24 assisted living apartments in a North Yorkshire town have been approved a decade after the scheme was first proposed.

The two-bedroom flats in Selby, which will be restricted to people aged 55 and over, are to be built near an existing care home on a former factory site.

Katherine Pimblott, agent for the applicant, told North Yorkshire Council's Selby and Ainsty area planning committee the flats represented the sustainable development of a brownfield site, which was well served by local services.

She said: "It will also provide housing for vulnerable people and promote their independence at a time where they may need it."

"It also, in turn, frees up family housing if people are looking to downsize into apartment-type accommodation," Ms Pimblott added.

A previous planning application for flats on Union Lane which was submitted in 2015 was refused.

The current application was filed in 2018, but delayed due to land ownership issues, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Ms Pimblott said: "While the building has been redesigned, it's been carefully done to remain in keeping with the neighbouring Osborne House.

"We very much see it as one development on site."

A report, which recommended approval of the scheme, noted there had been 16 objections from local residents.

Their concerns included the size of the proposed building, with residents fearing it would dominate the views from homes in Portholme Drive.

Selby Town Council also objected to the plans on the grounds of over-development of the site, a lack of car parking and the potential increase in traffic congestion.

Despite these concerns, the application was approved unanimously by the planning committee.

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