CRAVEN planners are being urged to approve plans to build new homes and a village green in Broughton, west of Skipton.

The application by the Broughton Hall Estate to build ten two and three bedroom homes for rent off Gargrave Road was set to be refused without even going in front of councillors because of poor access, sustainability and the development's relationship to the surrounding countryside.

But, following a request by ward councillor Robert Mason, the application will now go before Craven District Council's Planning Committee when it meets on Monday - although still with a recommendation for refusal.

Cllr Mason says he has called the application in because 'there is support within the community' and also an increase in employment opportunities in the area, but no new housing for some time - believed to be more than a hundred years.

"Consideration should be given to approving some new housing, and although in open countryside, the proposed scheme is well related to existing development," he said.

The fully detailed application, which was submitted late last year, proposes the building on open grassland to the south of an existing hamlet, North Street, of homes fronting onto Gargrave Road, off the A59.

Access would be via the existing junction of North Street with Gargrave Road.

In a report to Monday's meeting, original objections by the highways authority and by Yorkshire Water, appear to have been solved, following negotiations with an agent for the Broughton Estate.

Yorkshire Water had objected because the new homes would have been built on a water main, but accept that a diversion was possible, although the cost 'prohibitive'.

Similarly, the highways authority has said an allotment wall, which is owned by the estate, could be lowered to make visibility acceptable.

However, councillors, who will visit the site ahead of the meeting, are being advised by officers to refuse the scheme.

"Future occupiers of the development would be heavily reliant on travel by private motor in order to access shops and services to meet their everyday needs. This would give rise to an increase in the number and frequency of less sustainable trips."

Roger Tempest, of Broughton Hall, has said no new homes have been built in the parish for more than a hundred years - although it is now home to a business park.

He says new homes for rent in the area are well overdue, will sit well on the proposed site and will improve the village.

In addition, the village green would benefit both existing and new residents, and could attract families to the area.