WORK on a scheme for 83 homes approved for a York village last year despite much opposition is set to begin in the months ahead.

Barratt Homes won approval from City of York Council for the homes on Green Belt land in Dunnington after councillors agreed there were ‘special circumstances’ to allow them.

Planning committee approved the mix of 1,2,3 and 4-bed homes, including 25 affordable homes, last October.

The scheme off Eastfield Lane had attracted 59 objections, including Dunnington Parish Council, with just four people in support.

Opponents said there were brownfield sites inside the A64 and Outer Ring Road that could be built on.

The parish council also said the scheme would cause significant harm to the landscape, infrastructure, character and appearance of the area, with road safety and other important considerations.

The letters of support said the homes would be 'exactly what the village needs’, and ‘with house prices going through the roof, younger residents and first-time buyers are having to move away due to not being able to afford houses.’

Planning committee chairman Nigel Ayre told the meeting there was not enough brownfield sites to deliver the homes central government says York needs, so some had to be built on the green belt.

Council planning staff had earlier recommended approval, saying site at the edge of the village was already allocated for housing in the Draft Local Plan.

It would help the city meet its housing needs on a site that would do minimal damage to York’s historic and natural environment, they said.

This week, City of York Council published details of the approval, along with the Section 106 agreement.

Developer contributions include Barratt Homes funding £800,000 towards school provision and £47,925 to Dunnington Sports Club.

Asked why this has taken so long, Barratt Homes told the Press: “The application was referred to the Secretary of State before being released, at which point the Section 106 was completed and the Decision Notice issued.”

Barratt hopes to start work on the scheme in late 2022/early 2023, with completion and the homes coming to market in mid-late 2023.

Selling prices will be released at the appropriate time, a spokesperson continued.

They added: “The site represents one of very few emerging allocations to secure a planning consent that will help to deliver much needed housing in the City, and start to address the chronic undersupply as a consequence of extensive delays to the Local Plan process.”

When the plans were submitted in summer 2020, the application said: “The scheme blends a variety of dwelling types with good permeability, strong links to public transport, safe and secure access to public open space and a good variety of built form which is reflective and complimentary to the existing built form within the locality. These elements will ensure the creation of a pleasant environment to live.”