Agricultural land to be sold off for future housing

Plans to sell housing development land in Skipton are set to be approved this month by North Yorkshire Council.

The farming land, which is off Airedale Avenue, was previously owned by the former Craven District Council which had agreed to put it up for sale at a meeting in February 2022.

It covers around six acres and forms half of a bigger site which is allocated for residential development in the Craven Local Plan 2012-2032.

In 2019, plans for 53 homes were put forward for the site by Craven Barnfield Regeneration Ltd but the proposals never gained permission.

Last year, the now-abolished Craven District Council hired Align Property Partners to market the site and seven bids were received from developers. But councillors felt a final decision on the sale should be made by North Yorkshire Council.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive is due to meet on May 30 to formally authorise the sale. The council has stipulated that any development at this location must include eight affordable housing units for rent and eight affordable units for sale.

This would equate to 30% of the total development if 53 homes are developed.