Joe Willis

Planning officers have recommended approval for an outline application to build up to 52 homes on 3.2 hectares adjoining The Pastures in Sherburn, near Malton. Residents and Sherburn Parish Council have objected over overdevelopment, pressure on schools and healthcare, traffic, flooding, loss of farmland and effects on wildlife. The proposal includes 35% affordable housing, public open space, a play area and biodiversity improvements, alongside a £61,368 healthcare contribution. Officers say North Yorkshire Council's limited housing land supply triggers the national “tilted balance” in favour of sustainable development, and that the scheme's benefits outweigh its effects on the Grade II-listed Brewery House and other identified harms.

North Yorkshire Council is facing renewed criticism over its home-to-school transport policy after acknowledging that it has used different methods to measure distances to schools outside the county and has included some routes across private land. Campaigners and opposition leader Peter Lacey argue that the council applied stricter rules to families than it applied in its own eligibility assessments, with some households paying thousands of pounds for transport. The council says its approach reflects limitations in available mapping data, that historic distance-measurement methods were not changed by the 2024 policy, and that no child was disadvantaged. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has received around 20 complaints, finding fault and injustice in five cases, while the council prepares a post-implementation review.

North Yorkshire Council planning officers recommended approval for the Vale of York motorway service area at Kirby Hill after years of disputes. Several parish councils and residents objected, citing increased visual impact, environmental concerns, and safety issues, while officers found the scheme consistent with existing approvals and supported by key statutory bodies. The proposal includes extensive parking, fuel stations, and amenities and will be reviewed by the council’s strategic planning committee on July 21.