DEVELOPERS may fund a new sports hall for a North Yorkshire school if local people agree on the level of low-cost housing to be built.

Redrow hope to build about 100 homes as well as commercial properties on land “allocated for development” near to York Road in Easingwold.

In a letter to parents and pupils, Easingwold School said the developers were likely to build a new sports hall if the local community agreed in consultation that 25 per cent of the housing would be low cost.

In a letter sent out to pupils, Paul Betts had written: “If the local community choose the 25 per cent low-cost option, there is a very real possibility that Easingwold School will benefit by having a sports hall built as part of the agreement.

“The other low-cost options will not create sports facilities at the school. We would ask that you register your opinion at the consultation as this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the school.”

The housing area will include about 100 family homes and the commercial areas will be an outline application to confirm uses such as offices, health and retail, a spokesman for Redrow said.

The residential and commercial planning applications are to be submitted to Hambleton District Council this summer. John Grime, regional director for Redrow Homes Yorkshire, said: “We are carrying out a consultation exercise with the public in relation to proposals to build upwards of 100 new homes at York Road in Easingwold.

“As part of our proposals, we are looking at a number of community benefits including the possible provision of a new sports hall at the local school. The plans are in the early stages and the feedback we receive will be considered before any planning application is submitted.”

A public consultation was held last night and a further consultation is planned to take place in the Galtres Centre, Easingwold, from 4pm to 8pm tomorrow.