APPROVAL has been given for a 218- home estate to be built at Norton-on-Derwent.

Developers Redrow Homes are to invest a total of £500,000 in the town as a commuted sum for the permission, which is to be spent on providing a pumping station to combat flooding in Norton and a classroom development for the local county primary school.

About 45 per cent of the development will be affordable homes, said senior planning officer for Ryedale District Council, Paul Simpson.

Councillor Howard Keal said "This development is excellent news for Norton - we desperately need more affordable housing."