Plans submitted for 17 new homes on land to the rear of Burniston church

Elaine Carter Brown lodged outline planning permission with Scarborough Council in 2019 for the 24-home development in Burniston, on land off Wandales Drive and to the rear of Burniston Methodist Church.

The borough council’s planning officers had urged councillors to throw out the scheme due to a number of concerns but before the planning committee could vote on the plans they were withdrawn by the applicant.

Now, a revised scheme has been submitted with just 17 homes proposed.

The scheme is now out to consultation.

In a report to councillors in December, the council’s planning manager David Walker outlined the reasons that it was felt that the original plans did not meet the criteria for approval.

Mr Walker wrote: “The applicant has proposed that none of the 24 units are affordable homes. That, in its own right, clearly represents a sustainable reason for refusing planning permission.”

Under the council’s planning policies, 30% of the homes should be classed as affordable.

Other reasons for refusal included the loss of a green space that would impact on the amenity of the area, that there were too many homes for the size of the piece of land and that no Section 106 payment, estimated at £81,000, had been offered to provide extra education places that would be needed if the homes were to be built.