MAJOR plans to build more than 100 new homes in a village near Selby have been recommended for approval this week, despite claims from a councillor that approval would be “ill-conceived and perverse”.

The scheme to build 115 new houses on land close to Southlands Close, South Milford, have been recommended to be granted approval in a report to go before the planning committee of Selby District Council on Wednesday.

But the site has also been earmarked as a preferred option for the controversial Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD), which has for more than a year looked at potential sites for new developments, including a gipsy and traveller site around the district.

Coun Carol Mackman objected to the development on behalf of local residents, saying: “This application is premature in view of the emerging Site Allocations Development Plan Document which has now reached the preferred options stage.

“As this site has been included in the SADPD as a potential preferred option it would be premature and obtuse to release it now as the site is included in the SADPD statutory process which has not yet been concluded. It would be ill-conceived and perverse to ignore the public consultations and the SADPD which is a public and statutory process before it has been concluded.”

Another resident, Maurice Cawood, who lives in nearby Low Street, objected to the development for more practical reasons, and claimed: “The site is to be accessed via a single road which would seem to be inadequate for the likely level of traffic that this additional site, together with a further ten houses proposed an an adjacent site, would generate.

“The local facilities – particularly the primary school and GP surgery – would be unable to cope with the additional demand generated by this large development and a financial contribution would not resolve this problem.”

The report recommends the scheme is approved providing developers provide contributions for affordable housing, off-site recreational open space, and new education and waste and recycling facilities.