A DECISION on whether to give the go-ahead to proposals for a major housing development in Northallerton could be made later this week.

Developers George Wimpey want to build 69 new homes in Springwell Lane, on a site formerly occupied by North Yorkshire Timber.

Planning officials believe the scheme is generally acceptable and fits in with the local authority's long-term plans for the area.

But before being asked to make a final decision, local councillors will examine the site for themselves during a visit prior to Thursday's meeting of Hambleton's development control committee.

The developers want to build a variety of houses, ranging from two to five bedrooms, as well as a number of one and two-bedroom apartments.

Seventeen of the homes would be built as affordable housing and the application also includes the creation of public open space and play areas for both toddlers and school-age youngsters.

However, some local people have raised concerns about the development, in particular over vehicular access to the new estate.

They say the area is already heavily congested with traffic and would become even more so with the addition of all the homes in the proposal.

Some of the planned development would be three storeys high, which has also led to some strong objections about loss of views and privacy.

Yorkshire Water is also concerned that the local public sewer network does not have the capacity to accept any discharge of surface water from the site.

"It is imperative that a separate outfall is provided for surface water," said their spokesman.

"A sewage pumping station may be required to facilitate connection to the public sewer."

The county council's education department have also asked for a lump sum of £34,340 for Applegarth Primary School because of all the extra children that would be attending following completion of the development.

Experts at the Environment Agency say that providing the development adopts the findings of the flood risk assessment they have no objections from a flood defence viewpoint.