PLANS have been unveiled to build a further 85 homes on the edge of a village, just months after residents lost a three-year battle over a scheme to build a larger housing estate on neighbouring farmland.

Developer Taylor Wimpey has lodged a planning application with Hambleton District Council to extend Aiskew village towards the A1(M) by building on 3.3 hectares of agricultural land alongside Bedale Road.

It is understood the rapid expansion of the village is being fuelled by the growth of firms on the nearby Leeming Bar Industrial Estate.

The proposals follow residential developments recently being completed to the south of Bedale Road opposite the proposed development site, and plans to build on a neighbouring former chicken farm seeing residents voice road safety concerns.

Residents protested after the Barratt Homes’ original outline planning permission for 105 homes with 40 per cent affordable housing was increased to 116 homes, but with the number of affordable homes reduced to 17.

In documents submitted to Hambleton District Council, Taylor Wimpey state the estate would feature 30 per cent affordable housing, but there is no explanation as to why the proposed figure is short of the authority’s 40 per cent target.

In recent years councillors have voiced anger over many developers pressing to build the least amount of less profitable affordable housing as possible as having sufficient affordable housing is seen as vital to enable young people to remain in communities in the district.

The developer said pre-application talks with the council’s planning officers “were positive in relation to the overall design and layout of the scheme”.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “The proposed layout seeks to provide a residential development that fully integrates built form, landscaping and quality of place in order to provide a high quality proposal that is where people are proud to live.

“The provision of new landscaping in the form of public open space enhances the overall amenity of the site for all users and creates a green connection at the edge of Aiskew.

“Overall the scheme provides a high quality of development in a sustainable location with good links to local facilities and amenities.”

Councillor Carl Les, who represents Aiskew on the council, said the proposed scheme would have to be judged on its merits, but added road safety issues on the Bedale Road would have to be given due consideration.

He added: “We need to reflect that Aiskew shares many facilities with Bedale. Having lost the Methodist church hall some time ago, perhaps now it’s time for it to have its own community centre, as well as some retail outlets and a medical facility, as the one in Firby Road in Bedale is getting busier and busier.”