A ROW has broken out over plans to build four new houses in a North York Moors village made famous in ITV's Heartbeat.

Developers at Goathland want to demolish a farm building close to St Mary's Church and build a terrace of four cottages in its place.

Although planning officials are recommending that the application should be approved, residents in the picturesque village are concerned about the impact the new buildings will have.

Some Goathland residents have said they appreciate the need for low-cost housing, but fear the site is unsuitable.

They say the area is an attractive part of the village, popular with artists and film producers, and development would detract from the conservation area.

Prospective purchasers would have to be warned that the church clock struck every 15 minutes and the bells were frequently rung.

In a report to the North York Moors National Park planning authority, chief planning officer Val Dilcock says the application could only be approved subject to planning amendments, and stringent building conditions about the style of the buildings and materials used. The four houses - a two-bedroom cottage, two three-bedroom homes and a larger four-bedroom development - must also have tight local occupancy restrictions.

Affordable housing was essential for local people or local workers, she said.

But trustees working for WNG Sherratt at Goathland, which is developing the site, say it would be difficult financially to complete the build if all four houses had occupancy restrictions imposed.

In a letter to the authority, they state: "If, however, half the houses (or even just one of the four) did not have the restriction, this would make a vital financial difference to us and essentially make the project viable."

But Mrs Dilcock says that although they are aware of the financial ramifications, all four houses must be covered by the restrictions.

She says: "It is considered the local occupancy condition is particularly pertinent and necessary in villages like Goathland where its popularity and the large number of large houses means most existing houses are well outside the affordability of the majority of local people."

Members of the authority's planning committee will meet on Thursday to decide the application.

Updated: 11:29 Tuesday, May 27, 2003