Heronby: Plans for new village cut from council strategy

Plans for the site had been part of development blueprint for the Selby area of North Yorkshire

​Controversial plans for a new village, between York and Selby, have been put on hold, North Yorkshire Council said.

Nearly 4,000 homes were proposed for the site near Stillingfleet, known as Heronby.

However, campaigners from four neighbouring villages had raised concerns about the impact on traffic.

North Yorkshire Council said the plans should be removed from a blueprint outlining future development in the area.

Heronby was proposed for a 173 hectare site to the south of Escrick Road near Stillingfleet.

It had been a key development to deliver long-term housing growth needs for the area up to 2040 and part of a wider local plan for the Selby area.

Heronby would have had a market square and high street

Campaigners, who formed the Halt Heronby action group, previously claimed the scheme was "damaging and unnecessary" and would have a major impact on the A19.

Landowner Escrick Park Estate had said it aimed to deliver highway improvements as part of the scheme.

North Yorkshire Council's executive members were told "due to concerns raised about the highways impact of the new settlement which cannot be fully resolved at this stage, the proposals should be removed from the plan".

However, members of the executive recommended four new sites which would be added to the blueprint.

North Yorkshire Council's executive member for open for business, Derek Bastiman, said: "The revised plan recommends removing the Heronby settlement proposal and adding in new allocations for housing in the villages of Hambleton, North Duffield, Hensall and Eggborough."

If the plans are approved by full council, a six-week public consultation will take place in March.