PLANS have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for a 28-property development in Richmond.

The plans have been met with furious objections from local residents, backed up by Richmond Town Council - and makes the second controversial planning application in the town in recent months following the Westfields/Hurgill Road proposed development.

A planning statement has been prepared by DEB Town Planning and Development Ltd on behalf of Langlands Developments Ltd for 28 dwellings on land east of Bolton Avenue, Richmond.

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According to the report, the main body of the application site is rectangular in shape and extends to one hectare, with an emergency access link and open space the whole site comprises 1.39 hectares.

The site is located east of Bolton Avenue, between Prior Avenue and Olav Road and Alexandra Way. The site is bounded to the north by the Yorkshire Water site on Green Howards Road and the public highway.

The range of house types includes apartments, bungalows, semi-detached, detached and town house properties. The size of properties ranges from two bed to five-bed homes with the majority being two and three bed properties. The report states this housing mix will make a positive contribution to the range of housing available in Richmond.

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Resident Andrea Schaffell said: "I vehemently oppose the proposed Bolton Crofts development.

"Not only will Richmond become even more greatly populated but we will lose much needed green space for our wildlife.

"Today without this proposed development, the number of cars using Prior Avenue to park to go into the town, to enjoy Ronaldshay Park, and for those of us who have this as our only access out of our homes, is immense and at times dangerous.

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"And, when Prior Avenue is full, the public tend to use Crofts Avenue and it is a nightmare for those us who have driveways on this road."

Another resident Stephen Andrews said: "After over 40 years of studying the birdlife of Richmond, some birds have gone from the town, whilst other birds that had long ago disappeared from the town have returned and have become a daily sight.

"We need to protect every single green space we have around the town and as we have such an abundance in this one small field, to bulldoze off the topsoil destroying a whole ancient ecosystem that has been part of Richmond long before the castle was built to build a housing estate is a crime that will not be forgotten by future generations of Richmond folk."