Thirsk residents object to 'eyesore' container site

Developers said there would be adequate separation distances between homes on Poppy Drive and the storage containers

A plan to place storage containers on a greenfield site in North Yorkshire would destroy "a plethora of wildlife", objectors have claimed.

Developers want to put 76 containers on grassland at the Sowerby Gateway development on the outskirts of Thirsk.

Scriven Properties said the units would be placed on land off Cedar Road for three years, prior to it being used for "employment units".

However, some residents said the plan would create an "eyesore".

One objector said: "This proposal will lower the tone of the area and as many young children live in the estate will thus become a danger to them."

In a planning application to North Yorkshire Council, Scriven Properties said placing the storage containers temporarily on the land, which is designated in the Local Plan for employment use, was "entirely appropriate".

'Grassland destroyed'

The application follows planning consent being granted in June last year to construct 11 buildings described as "employment units" on the site, on the condition construction was started within five years.

The gardens of the homes on nearby Poppy Drive would be about 16ft (5m) from the containers, which the proposal said was an "adequate separation distance".

The papers state that "on balance" the distance would be "acceptable", because the height is "comparable to a two-storey dwelling and there are no windows proposed which would compromise privacy".

However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said residents have claimed that if given temporary consent it was unlikely further temporary permissions for the storage containers would be refused.

In objections submitted to the council they claimed the "unsightly" containers would ruin land which now housed an abundance of wildlife.

One resident wrote: "The proposed development is based on an area of grassland which will be destroyed."

A decision on the planning application is yet to be made by North Yorkshire Council.