A PLANNING application to build 97 affordable homes on land, that had been on the market since 2013, has been approved.

Thirteen Group's application to build the affordable housing complex Sowerby Gateway in Sowerby, North Yorkshire, was approved by Hambleton District Council's planning committee on Thursday.

At the committee, ward members heard how the development would provide 100 percent affordable housing on a space of land that other businesses had showed "little" interest in.

The scheme, which will now see a mix of flats, bungalows and one to four bedroom houses, was formally approved without any objection.

During the meeting, councillor Bridget Fortune for the Hutton Rudby Ward, said she welcomed the development's "mix of housing types" and was pleased to see the inclusion of bungalows, with accessibility for disabled people.

However, Cllr Brian Phillips, who said he had experienced problems with parking at other affordable housing developments, raised initial concerns over the number of spaces that would be available at the development, and asked what guarantees had been made.

Responding, Hambleton District Council's north development manager, Tim Wood, said the development would include the correct number of parking spaces in line with North Yorkshire County Council's regulations - Cllr Phillips agreed that the application should be granted.

Owing to the development's close proximity to the East Coast Mainline, one councillor did question the dimensions of a planned acoustic barrier, proposed as a means to mitigate railway noise from residents.

Councillor Bryn Griffiths said the barrier's original dimensions within the plans should be extended so that it would wrap further around the development, and it was agreed that this could be discussed further.

The development will now progress to the next stage.