West Ayton Highways Depot - North Yorkshire County Council

ii) Policy H5 relates to affordable housing in rural areas and states that
as an exception to other local plan policies, planning permission may
be granted for small scale, affordable housing to meet identified need
on sites within or on the edge of existing settlements that would not
normally be considered acceptable.
iii) Policy H6 requires a range of dwelling types.
iv) Policy H8 requires schemes of 20 or more houses to include a
proportion of homes to take account of people with disabilities.
v) Policy H16 requires new residential development to be at a minimum
density of 25 dwellings per hectare.
vi) Policy R2 requires the provision of an area of public open space for
developments of over 15 units and appropriate maintenance.
4.10 All of the above policy matters are considered further within the appended
Development brief.
4.11 PPG3 “Re-using urban land and buildings”, states that the Government is
committed to maximising the reuse of previously developed land and empty
properties and the conversion of non-residential buildings for housing, in order
both to promote regeneration and minimise the amount of Greenfield land
being taken for development.
5.0 MAIN CONSIDERATIONS
5.1 The site is currently occupied by the West Ayton Highways Depot and is
utilised for the storage of highway salt in the form of a salt mound and other
equipment utilised by the County Council. The Highway Authority is locating
to a larger site and therefore their current depot is surplus to requirements.
The site extends to 0.75ha and is level. The development of the site for
residential development would, to a degree, have a lesser visual impact on its
surroundings compared to that of the existing Highway Depot. This is in line
with PPG3 and the redevelopment of previously used land within a settlement.
5.2 It is envisaged that the site will be developed for a sensitively designed
scheme of open market housing with a range of house types and sizes.
Through the Development Brief it is envisaged that redevelopment of the
entire site would be achieved in a co-ordinated manner. Subject to
appropriate design the development should positively contribute to the
regeneration of the area and not prejudice the activities of any neighbouring
occupiers or businesses.
5.3 The issue of sewage and drainage at the site has been addressed by the
conditions requested by Yorkshire Water in order to alleviate the issue of
possible additional sewage at the site.
5.4 Access and the issue of increased traffic on Garth End Road, has also been
addressed by the conditions requested by the Highway Authority. However, it
is not anticipated that the overall amount of traffic at the site would increase
beyond that of its current usage as a Highway Depot.
NYCC – 06.06.06 – P&RFC
West Ayton Highways Depot/4