A HOUSING development in Masham has been given the final go-ahead after a planning chief said providing affordable housing outweighed other policy considerations.

In March, Harrogate Borough Council refused the plan for five detached houses and four affordable town houses at Sunnyside, in Red Lane.

Last month, there was a split vote on the latest application for a revised scheme of five detached properties and four affordable town houses.

Three councillors voted in favour and three against, with the chairman Nigel Simms (Masham) giving his casting vote in favour of the scheme.

But because the decision was against planning officers' advice, it had to be re-run at the latest meeting, where the scheme was approved by five votes to three.

The meeting this week had been told by Coun Richard Cooper, cabinet member for planning, that the provision of affordable homes was a key issue.

Five letters of objection were tabled covering a range of issues - including concern about inadequate parking.

Another objector said the homes would be over-dominant in an area of single storey buildings and unsympathetic to the area's character.

Another objector said there was a lack of garden space for the affordable properties.

Planning officer Mike Warden, who recommended refusal, said the development would adversely impinge on attractive mature trees. The trees contributed significantly to the area's character and setting, he said.