A long-awaited major housing scheme in a village near York looks set to receive its final approval next week.

The planning committee of City of York Council is recommended to approve the reserved matters application from Miller Homes for 140 homes at Copmanthorpe, when it meets on Thursday.

Originally, Gladman Homes applied to build 158 homes on the 7.56ha site south of Tadcaster Road at the north-east of the village in 2018, gaining outline planning approval in July 2022.

Then, after further public consultation, last December Miller Homes submitted revised proposals at the final design stage for 133 homes, plus seven further self-build homes.

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As previously reported, the development would feature access from Tadcaster Road, with a green buffer to the west and a pocket park in the southwestern corner, and a potential new attenuation basin in the proposed open space.

The proposed open space would be predominantly to the north east of the site, with footways leading to it and the buffer zone to the west some 20-30m wide.

A report prepared by council planning staff says housing chiefs welcome the affordable and other housing the development would deliver.

They said: “This proposal is strongly supported from an affordable housing perspective, providing much needed homes across a range of types and tenure.”

(Image: Pic supplied)

It features 91 market homes (27x2-bed, 37x3-bed, 27x4-bed), plus 42 affordable homes (8x1-bed,14x2-bed,14x3-bed,6x4-bed) and 7 self-builds of unknown size.

Most of the planned homes are two-storey, 20 are 2.5 storeys and four are bungalows.

A mix of detached, semi-detached and short terraces are proposed.

The report said Copmanthorpe Parish Council opposed the scheme, with reasons including inadequate access from Tadcaster Road.

Four letters of objection cited reasons including the loss of open space, it generating traffic and Copmanthorpe lacking sufficient infrastructure to cope with the extra residents.

Three letters of support cited reasons included the development meeting housing need.

The planners’ report notes the scheme features varied landscaping with a high amount of green infrastructure such as trees, hedging and open field.

“The areas of open space and new landscaping shown follow the principles of the Illustrative Masterplan agreed at the outline stage, providing new open space for informal recreational activities, including walking, resting areas, picnic areas and informal play.”

There is also a dog exercise area in the north-east of the site to encourage dog owners to use this instead of the nearby Askham Bog.

The report also notes a tweaking of the Section 106 agreement to replace discounted sale dwellings with intermediate rent dwellings. A £40,000 contribution would be spent on creating new bus stops close to pedestrian/cycle entrance on Tadcaster Road.

After assessing the issues, council planners concluded the scheme adheres to the parameters approved at the outline planning stage.

It provides a range of house types to meet local need and provides and “attractive, verdant development,” also meeting local and national planning policies and the National Design Guide.

Therefore, approval was recommended, subject to the revised Section 106 agreement on developer contributions.