COUNCILLORS concerned they’re being “swamped” by new houses have called developers Persimmon to a meeting to address objections.

New plans for the final phase of a major housing estate at Southend in Bedale have been put forward by the developers on land already allocated for housing.

Hundreds of homes have already been built in the first two phases of the scheme over the past decade. Cllr John Noone told members of the Town Council there was little they could do because the land had already been allocated for housing.

“ There is a lot of concern, but there is no way this is going to be stopped. Persimmon are so big and so strong they will go to appeal and if it gets thrown out that is a consideration for the local authority if they have to pay costs,” he added.

But Cllr Mike Barningham said there were concerns about the density of the houses, in original plans it was proposed there would be 75 but the new scheme had 93 houses including some which were two and a half storeys high.

“There are extra, and how do the designs fit in with the rest of South End? they’re not that density, maybe they need pulling up on this a bit,” he said.

Cllr Noone said :”If you don’t get your housing built there are companies that can chase council’s. I don’t know where the new residents are coming from or where they are going to work, but they had the land and it is in the allocation. It is swamping us with houses quite frankly, but there isn’t a lot we can do about it.”

Local residents had raised objections, in connection with the lack of parking on the new site, the number of houses being built and road safety on South End, one of the main roads into Bedale.

Cllr Clive Pointon said concerns over strain on the schools in the area was a red herring as Bedale High School needed children and there had been increased provision at the primary school.

The town council were told the cost of the new houses would be between £180,000 to £350,000, it’s not known how many will be affordable homes. They agreed to invite Persimmon and representatives from Hambleton Planning to a meeting to discuss the concerns. Residents will be asked to put questions in writing. No one was available at Persimmon to comment.