PLANS to build 68 homes on the site of a former abattoir failed to win the support of district councillors, despite backing from the parish council and the local school.

Northern Counties Meat said its Aiskew operation was no longer viable and hoped to move its meat processing business to other North-East centres.

Its application would allow the firm to recoup some of its losses by selling the site for housing.

A quarter of the new properties would be low-cost homes, which had the support of the parish council. The local primary school also pointed out that new residents would boost falling rolls and could help stave off the risk of redundancy among teachers.

However, Hambleton District Council's planning department voted to reject the scheme.

The authority's officers argued the houses would be outside the established developments limits and to grant approval would compromise long-term housing strategies.

Concern was also expressed about access on and off the site and the omission of a play area from the plans.