A public meeting held in Spennithorne heard that plans for 13 new houses were being drawn up with a view to a planning application at later stage.

Mr Wilson Young opened proceedings and introduced Brian Hodges, a retired planning officer, now a planning consultant and his son and Christopher an architectural technician. They explained purpose of the meeting was an informal consultation as they have been asked by the owners of the land Metcalfe Farms to draw up plans for an area of new housing.

It was planned to build thirteen homes at the edge of the village opposite the school. The dwellings were to be a mixture of four rented or shared ownership properties; the remainder for private purchase, two low cost semidetached and further seven to be 3 or 4 bedroom detached dwellings.

Mr B Hodges explained that development was within Richmondshire District Council’s plans to have new 45 houses built in the four villages of Spennithorne, Harmby, Finghall and Hunton by 2028. He also added that 215 homes in nearby Leyburn were planned. No planning application has yet been submitted although informal contact has been made with RDC and NYCC Highways. Officers from Richmonshire’s planning department were invited but unable to attend due to the weather.

The meeting held in the church was well attended, with 70 residents from a population of just fewer than 200 of turning out on a bitterly cold night. After hearing the plans members of the audience were given the chance to ask questions.

It soon became apparent that the majority of those who attended were against the plans. Concerns raised were; damage to the aesthetic nature of the village with it leading to a larger scale development, concerns about access and the speed of vehicles passing in front of the school along with fear the houses could be solely holiday homes or unaffordable for young people.

However, the overriding concern related to homes badly affected by flooding, notably in 2012; that thirteen new houses would add to an as yet unresolved problem. Despite an assurance that the problem of drainage and surface water would be dealt with many of those in attendance remained sceptical.

The chairman of the meeting Mr Young also pointed out a financial implication. At present Spennithorne is a village meeting; a slightly larger population may increase the tax precept as it could be asked to become a parish council with the precept doubling from £15 to £30. He agreed to pass on a formal list of objections and points raised.

The architects then told the meeting they would digest the information gleaned from the meeting, which they would pass onto owners of land.