New village not viable if land is not acquired

The village of Maltkiln would be built between York and Harrogate

Plans for a new village of 3,000 homes in North Yorkshire could be in doubt if not all of the required land is acquired, a council has been warned.

The community, named Maltkiln, would be centred around Cattal railway station, between York and Harrogate.

However, Veritas Planning, the agents for one of the landowners Benjamin Dent said he remained unwilling to provide 42% of the land earmarked for the proposed development.

Stuart Vendy, from Veritas Planning, said in a letter to North Yorkshire Council the plan would be "undeliverable" if it did not use compulsory purchase orders (CPO) to acquire the land.

"If the CPO is unsuccessful, a substantial portion of the envisaged settlement will ultimately be undeliverable in its entirety, and the overall sustainability of the settlement will likely be fatally undermined," he wrote.

Mr Vendy added the issue had not been addressed in a report by officers for a meeting of the council's executive last week.

"To date, we are disappointed the council does not seem to have fully considered the implications of a failed CPO and we remain concerned with the council's approach," he said.

Maltkiln will offer at least 3,000 new homes along with health facilities, schools and shops

The council has previously said it would use a CPO to acquire the land to deliver the settlement if necessary.

A report stated that it believed there was a reasonable prospect that a CPO would succeed, with the planning inspector supporting this view, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Negotiations over the land between the council and Mr Dent collapsed in 2022.

The original scheme was for 4,000 new homes, but this was reduced to at least 3,000 after a different landowner pulled out.

Areas for employment and education are planned as part of the development, as well as health services, shops and community spaces.

North Yorkshire also has a target of delivering 4,200 homes a year. and senior councillors have said

The plan to build Maltkiln has been criticised by local communities and councillors, who say the area selected isa the wrong place for the village.

Green councillor Arnold Warneken has also called on the authority to ensure the development does not become a "housing estate in the countryside".

The authority will discuss the development plan document for the scheme at next month's full council meeting.

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