PROPOSED developments in one of Britain’s fastest growing towns are continuing to be pushed forward, despite concerns that the main route through the area has reached its limit.

Fears over the A6136 Catterick Road through Colburn and Catterick Garrison look set to be raised next week as Richmondshire District Council’s planning committee stages its first meeting since lockdown restrictions started.

Colburn is undergoing a rapid transformation as neighbouring Catterick Garrison will see Army personnel rise to 8,400 – an increase of 2,700 - over the next 14 years. Units are scheduled to begin moving to and from Catterick this year and construction has been planned to start at individual barracks next year.

The meeting will consider one of a string of plans to develop off Catterick Road – a 1,300sq metre building mainly for self-storage and warehousing. which would generate 13 full-time jobs, at Colburn Business Park. Recommending the scheme for approval, in a report planning officers said the proposed development would “not raise any severe or unacceptable issues with regards to highway safety and amenity”. 

As well as hundreds of houses which are set to be built off the road, schemes yet to be decided include a plan submitted in March to build 83 homes beside the business park, 24 affordable homes on land fronting Catterick Road as part of the Colburndale estate and a scheme for a drive-through coffee shop and three other shops at nearby Woodland Avenue.

Colburn Town Council said it was pleased to see further development on the business park and supported the warehouse application, but added there was an “ongoing issue is with the levels of traffic on the A6136 which every development directly accessing the road is further contributing to the extremely high levels of traffic”.

A town council spokeswoman said: “Both business users and residents from Colburn Drive area have experienced problems exiting the business park when turning against the traffic and some turn left and use the Chase small roundabout to join the flow of traffic more safely. An alternative road to the A6136 is required to prevent queuing and promote safety.”

The concerns have been raised with highway authority North Yorkshire County Council. The town council has raised similar concerns over the road’s capacity ahead of decisions being made on other planning applications.

Referring to the coffee outlet and shops proposal, the town council said highways officers had “made some very pertinent comments on the pedestrian safety and the real risk of stacking” at a main junction and that the developers had “shrugged off such comments”.

Calling for a “proper consultation” over the shops and affordable homes schemes, a town council spokeswoman said they would being “a fundamental change” to Colburn. She added: “What are the benefits to existing residents, what are the developers going to give to the town in recompense?”