Scarborough councillors vote against plan for ‘gross overdevelopment’ of site for 29 new homes

Plans for how the 29 new homes on Scarborough's Victoria Road would look.

A plan for 29 new homes on Victoria Road in Scarborough has been rejected by councillors.

An application by Squire of Scarborough seeking to demolish existing buildings and construct 29 open market dwellings on 135 to 137 Victoria Road has been refused by the council.

Members of the planning and development committee voted against the plan, in line with a recommendation for refusal, due to concerns about the standards of design, the absence of affordable housing provision, and the absence of agreed financial commitments to play facilities, healthcare, and green spaces.

The plan proposed the construction of 29 dwellings that would have been made up of nine three-bed houses, nine one-bed flats, and 11 two-bed flats.

The application sought to “establish the principle of developing the land with 29 open market dwellings” with access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale set for later consideration.

According to a statement submitted by Squire of Scarborough, the business has suffered “a major detrimental impact” from a reduction in passing trade and would have relocated its premises closer to the town centre if the plan had been approved.

Speaking at a meeting of the planning committee, Cllr John Nock said: “It is, as has been said, a gross, unpleasant, and almost obscene overdevelopment of this site.

“It is appalling that this application should come before us. We should reject it.”

During the consultation period, objections to the plans were received from the Victorian Society as well as a local business owner.

The Victorian Society urged the applicant to “investigate repurposing of the buildings to allow them to remain in keeping with their setting and to reduce carbon emissions”.

The applicant’s design and access statement said: “The proposed development is based upon studies around possible futures for the site and a number of schemes have been developed using information from local agents about the types of properties that will be viable and have good sales potential in this area.”

However, Cllr Will Forbes said: “In my eyes, it is the destruction of character heritage property on that street.

“At the same time, I understand that bringing in quite a lot of new residents there would help a lot of small businesses on that street.”

The planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the recommendation to refuse planning permission.