A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build luxury homes on an old meadow near a village has been turned down.

The Burgess Group had wanted to build 11 homes in a field in Thornton-le-Dale, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, and demolish a bungalow to get access to the site.

But 27 householders sent letters to the North York Moors National Park Authority protesting that the scheme would cause more problems in an already traffic-congested area in Castle Close, especially when 200 pupils were arriving at or leaving the village's primary school.

Others argued that the development would be too close to existing homes and would impinge on the residents' privacy.

Park planning officers had recommended approval of the scheme, subject to a list of stringent conditions.

Letters of objection included one from the Right Reverend David Galliford, Assistant Bishop of York, and another from County Councillor Murray Naylor, who said he was concerned about the potential impact it could have on the traffic management study at present being carried out in Thornton-le-Dale.

Planning consultants Stuart Copeland Associates also said the scheme would be contrary to the park's planning policies, because it would have a detrimental impact on the landscape.

The plan had involved building eight four-bedroomed and three two-bedroomed homes.