THE CONSULTATION period rumbles on for controversial plans to build nearly 1,000 homes next to a quiet village.

Plans for the Sowerby Gateway project in Sowerby, near Thirsk have provoked an unprecedented amount of objections from residents in the past seven months.

What’s more a decision for the project looks set to be deferred at this week’s planning committee.

A petition carrying 139 signatures and 114 individual objections have so far been made in the consultation period for the Sowerby Gateway development.

The development in Sowerby, near Thirsk, consists of 925 homes, as well as shops, a hotel, medical centre and a school is the biggest planning application ever received by Hambleton District Council (HDC).

Objections made have questioned the need for the development, the impact on Sowerby as a community and suitability of road infrastructure, amongst many other issues.

Graham Elders said: "The size of the proposed development is vast in comparison to the existing village of Sowerby, indeed, Sowerby would no longer be a village, and also there is no evidence that such a scale of development is required for the existing population.

"The only motive remaining is the importing of population - the council is not authorised to this."

Mr C Collingswood said: "I cannot believe this is even being considered in its current format.

"Topcliffe road hosts two schools, with usual traffic problems at certain times with parent pickups and kids crossing.

"Traffic to the Tescos mini roundabout is already jammed at peak periods - another 925 homes all trying to use the same access for schools, supermarket, town and railway station would obviously cause chaos without an appropriate traffic relief infrastructure."

The 72.5 ha development, which would be located on land off Topcliffe Road and Gravel Hole Lane outside Sowerby, near Thirsk has previously been ear-marked by the council as suitable for development.

Due to the strong public outcry, including recent news of a public meeting called by Sowerby parish council’s chairman on July 6, planning officers have recommended the application be deferred.

The expiration date of the application is July 7 however a spokeswoman from HDC said this was only a guide and that if the application was deferred this week a decision should be made by the end of August.

The planning committee meets this Thursday at 1.30pm in council chambers, HDC Civic Centre in Northallerton.