RESIDENTS fear plans for an estate of 52 houses on the outskirts of Romanby and Northallerton could pave the way for a much larger development.

Developers have sent information to people in the Ainderby Road area of the town asking for their comments.

The document states that Mulberry Homes Yorkshire are preparing a full planning application to build 52 houses on land to the west of Ainderby Road and to the north of Wooden Hill Lane. The development planned is a mixture of two, three and four bedroom homes, a number of which will be delivered as affordable housing in collaboration with Broadacres Housing Association.

But residents are already concerned that the scheme will pave the way for many more houses because the current layout design leaves three estate road ends blocked off.

One householder said: "I’m not sure how I feel about it. I can understand the need for more housing, hopefully affordable, and I don't want to be a NIMBY, it'll be further along my road, but I feel this might only be the beginning of a much larger development, and by asking for feedback the developer is only paying lip service to the 'consultation process' and it's actually a done deal."

Darlington and Stockton Times: Proposed development area at Ainderby Road, Romanby. Picture Google Earth

Another resident said: "An attempt was made three years ago to build in the same location. It was refused planning because it is outside of the town development limit. I always knew someone would have another go. Hopefully it will be refused at the planning stage again. With the huge estate going up at the North end (of Northallerton) there's no need for this one in Romanby."

In 2016 it is understood a plan by Persimmon to build 56 houses in the area was refused after more than 70 objections. There are also concerns about traffic, particularly at school times, and residents who bought homes overlooking fields say their views will be totally ruined.

A spokesman for Broadacres said: "We are currently only looking at plans to build 52 homes on the site, of which over half will be affordable, and would welcome comments from local people on our proposal ahead of any formal planning application being submitted."

The developers say the project is currently undergoing detailed design work ahead of a planning application and it is asking for views on the layout of the estate, images of the houses, how the development may look when completed and how the designs fit in with the surrounding architecture.

Comments should be submitted by April 11 by email at info@saddingtontaylor.co.uk or see www.saddingtontaylor.co.uk/land-at-ainderby-road-northallerton/