BUILDER Skipton Properties says it plans to start work early next year on 98 new homes after buying the edge of town development site off Persimmon Homes.

The family owned developer says it hopes to be able to release for sale the first of the houses, at the site off Aldersley Avenue, Shortbank Road, Skipton, next summer.

Skipton Properties, which also built the nearby 103 home Elsey Croft, says it hopes its latest development will be warmly received.

The development will include a selection of natural stone two, three and four bedroom homes and will offer a ‘range of accommodation styles for modern living’. 20 of the new homes will be classed ‘affordable’.

Sarah Barraclough, managing director of Skipton Properties, said: “We’re extremely excited to be building in Skipton again.

“Our previous development, Elsey Croft, was a huge success and provided 103 quality homes for Skipton. We hope Aldersley Avenue will be similarly received.”

The company says the development has been sensitively designed and is reflective of local feedback received in the consultation process.

The design, it adds, will ensure the area around Jenny Beck continues to be a destination for wildlife and further enhances the surrounding landscape.

Planning permission for the 98 homes was given on appeal towards the end of 2019 after twice being refused permission by Craven District Council.

Councillors, acting both times against officer advice raised highways concerns, but refused permission on the single issue of the overlooking of four homes on Moorview Way.

After the refusal decision was overturned by a Government planning inspector, Persimmon said it would start work last summer, but has now sold the site to Skipton Properties.

In allowing the appeal, the planning inspector pointed out that the site had been identified in the Craven Local Plan as suitable for residential development, was ‘sustainably located, with good access to the facilities and services that Skipton has to offer’.

The inspector continued: “The proposal would provide a significant boost to the council’s housing requirements and would generate a substantial economic benefit through the development of the site and through the expenditure of future occupants in the local area.

“Additionally, there would be ecological benefits through additional planting including the provision of native woodland buffer. The parties have agreed suitable developer contributions towards affordable housing and public open space.”

The inspector also dismissed over-looking concerns raised by the council.