HAMBLETON District Council will grant planning approval, subject to various planning conditions and the completion of a legal agreement to address several important issues, for the construction of 298 houses and a relief road for the North Northallerton Development, with outline approval for the construction of a further 600 houses, a primary school, shops, restaurants, medical facilities and sports/recreational areas (D&S Times, Nov 20).

Mark Robson, leader of the council, is quoted as saying: “This is a very exciting development – not only will it provide much needed housing, it will boost the local economy and provide a new road.”

Rather than being “exciting” I consider that this development, specifically the southern boundary, to be ludicrous.

How a forward-thinking council can approve a residential development on the edge of an industrial/business area which strangles any further expansion of the industrial/business area on the east side of Darlington Road beggars belief.

The proposed southern boundary will allow houses to be built within close proximity of several major industrial sites, notably the Allerton Steel fabrication facility on Thurston Road (I have no connection whatsoever with Allerton Steel). If these houses are built in close proximity to the boundary of the business/industrial area, it will only be a matter of time before complaints arise from residents about noise, dust and light pollution emanating from the operations of the businesses and pressures will be applied to curtail the operations of those businesses.

This cannot be good for the local economy which Mr Robson seeks to boost by constructing 898 (or is it 1,050?) houses.

To its credit, Northallerton Town Council has clearly highlighted this issue (among several others) in its objection to the development.

It is evident that Hambleton council has the sole intention of re-modelling Northallerton into a dormitory town, giving little or no thought to where all these additional residents will find employment.

I challenge Mr Robson, or one of his Hambleton colleagues, to justify why the possible expansion of the business area has been forfeited in favour of a residential development.

Danny Myers, Northallerton