COUNCILLORS have unanimously rejected a greenfield site housing development amid fears it could set a precedent for more homes in the countryside.

Members of a Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council voted against the application to build two detached homes at Back Lane, Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon.

The scheme had been recommended for refusal by planning officer Mike Warden.

He said the scheme would have involved dormer bungalows being built, which would have been out of character with other architecture in the area.

In addition, he said the homes would have been harmful to the character and natural beauty of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Mr Warden said development would have been outside the village development boundary, on a greenfield site and with no provision for affordable housing.

He added that the scheme would have been in conflict with Kirkby's new Village Design Statement, the Structure Plan as well as Local Plan policies and he strongly recommended refusal.

Letters of objection opposed development of agricultural land, expressed fears of setting a precedent for other similar development and opposed a new access into a field.

One objector quoted the Village Design Statement which said the village boundary should not be extended further.

A majority of members of Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council were not in favour of the development, saying it cnroached on a greenfield site.

A report to the committee said the applicant wanted to retire as a farmer and relocate to Kirkby where he wanted to build two homes on land he owned.

One would be for himself and one for his daughter and family. That, said the report, would mean a dwelling at his farm in nearby Carlsmoor would become available for sale.

But Mr Warden said that justification was considered to be primarily on personal grounds and was not considered appropriate for setting aside planning policies.