Plans for 500 homes on outskirts of Malton

Master Planner Leon Krier - who developed Prince Charles' experimental new town Poundbury in Dorset - is involved in the new scheme for a 46-acre site on Castle Howard Road on the west side of Malton, inside the A64 by-pass.

The Fitzwilliam Malton Estate will seek the community's views during a consultation event at 12 Market Street, Malton, between 10am and 5pm on Saturday March 22.

The estate, which owns and manages a substantial portfolio of property in Malton, said the event offered a chance to invite discussion and take on board other views, which would be used to inform the design process.

"We do not see this developing as ‘just another housing estate’," said a spokesman.

"We hope to work with the community to produce a new residential quarter of Malton that will grow organically over several years in harmony with Malton’s infrastructure and the demand for new homes."

He said the proposals were at an early stage and when the designs were complete, they would go through the full planning process. "We do not expect to start on site until 2016 at the earliest."

He said Mr Krier’s designs incorporated classical themes whilst bearing modern living requirements in mind and also taking into account the local architectural theme.

He added that as architect Jan Maciag's artist’s impression of the site showed, there were plans to include a village green. It would also be built as a ‘walkable’ community, favouring the pedestrian over the vehicle.

Tobias Burckhardt, Malton Estate’s surveyor, said: “This will be an exciting development for Malton. It is important to the estate that we take the community on the journey with us. The event on Saturday March 22 is a chance to speak to us, give us your ideas and suggest ways of improving the scheme.

“Leon Krier is an influential Master Planner, whose work is renowned in the UK and beyond. His involvement guarantees a unique project that will have positive effects for the town for many generations."