A decision on delaying the construction of a bridge and connecting road at a 1,300-home development at Eastfield has been deferred by a council committee.

Kebbell Developments wanted to relax the “trigger for the delivery” of a connecting road and bridge in Eastfield, but coastal councillors said they were not convinced by the company’s arguments.

Planning officers had recommended allowing the construction and occupation of dozens more houses to avoid pausing construction works.

However, members of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee said they were minded to refuse the application following concerns from residents and the division councillor.

Kebble Developments, streetscape for Eastfield development.

placeholder image — Kebble Developments, streetscape for Eastfield development.

Cllr Eric Broadbent said: “I think the Channel Tunnel is probably easier to build than this bridge.

“I can’t support this application, and the developers should get their heads together, get it built, and do the residents of Deepdale a favour.”

However, officers said that plans for the construction of the bridge were under way and were “satisfied that developers are fully committed to the bridge and we expect a formal application in the very near future”.

Committee members said they remained sceptical, but instead of refusing the delay, they agreed to postpone a decision until “substantive” plans for the bridge were provided.

The site, on land north of Eastfield, received outline planning permission in 2013 for up to 1,350 properties.

In 2023, a hybrid application was approved for around 657 dwellings on land east of Deepdale, and it is the conditions attached to that permission for which a change was sought.

The new scheme would allow for 693 houses to be occupied “prior to construction of the link road and bridge to allow construction of the current phase to be completed”.

Speaking at the meeting, a planning officer said a “compromise solution had been proposed by the applicant” and that the revised proposal was “a reasonable and sensible compromise”.

Officers added that “a specialist bridge design company has been engaged by the company, with a formal submission to be made later this year”.

Eastfield councillor Tom Seston said: “The issue with the link road and the bridge was raised with me as soon as I was elected and it’s been a sore spot for many residents on the development.

“The lack of delivery of basic infrastructure in certain parts of the development and developers not fulfilling their promises has been a long-running issue, while I appreciate that not all the issues are linked to one single developer.

“The behaviour of various companies has left a bad taste in residents’ mouths, and they feel neglected by these companies.”

Councillors were advised that the issue was complicated by different developers working simultaneously at the site.

Officers noted that there had been “a previous allowance, three or four years ago, to delay the construction of the bridge”.

“Denying Kebble this application may not result in the bridge being delivered any sooner, and this situation is not entirely of Kebble’s making, as there are several companies at work here.”

The planning committee agreed to postpone a decision until September and instructed officers to seek clarification on the developer’s plans for the bridge.