PLANS to build almost 1,000 homes on the northern edge of Northallerton will reach a major milestone this month, with the end of a public consultation on the project.

A public exhibition and meeting will bring to an end an extensive consultation with local people on the plans, which are known as the North Northallerton Development area masterplan.

Hambleton District Council allocated the 59-hectare site for development as part of its local development framework, the document all planning must conform to.

The masterplan will fulfil the town’s housing, employment and recreation needs up to 2026.

Almost 1,000 homes will be built, employment land set aside and open space and recreation areas included.

And there will be a vital link road between Stokesley Road and Darlington Road, which it is hoped will ease traffic pressure on the market town.

Extensive consultation has already been undertaken throughout the creation of the masterplan - with the local community, landowners and developers, local councils and other statutory bodies.

To bring that process to a close there will be a special meeting of the district council’d Northallerton Area Forum on Tuesday, June 21.

The meeting kicks off at 7pm in the lower hall of Northallerton Town Hall.

It is open to everyone and questions about the plan can be put to the Northallerton area councillors.

Before the meeting there will be an exhibition charting key elements of the plan – with council officers on hand to answer questions.

It begins at 5.30pm.

The plan has been developed with support worth £82,000 from the government’s Rural Masterplanning Fund, receiving the largest allocation of support amongst projects nationally.

It has also been supported by the Advisory Team for Large Applications (Atlas) - a part of the Homes and Communities Agency.

External input was provided by a consultancy team led by Taylor Young.

A council spokesman said: "The emerging ‘vision’ for north Northallerton is that, by 2026, it will have developed into a cluster of attractive, sustainable communities complementing the existing town of Northallerton and its neighbouring villages.

"High quality community facilities serve their residential and working communities well.

"The area is known for its ‘green heart’, excellent parks, recreation facilities and nature areas."

Full details of the masterplan are available to download from the council’s website.

Visit hambleton.gov.uk/nnda