North Yorkshire Council has yet to agree costs with developers after it failed to defend a decision to refuse plans for 23 homes in Bishop Monkton.

The government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes, approved the proposal for Knaresborough Road in the village.

It came after the council’s planning committee rejected the plan in August last year.

Kebbell Development Ltd appealed the decision, which was then granted approval by a planning inspector on May 9.

The government also awarded costs for the appeal against the council after it found it had shown “unreasonable behaviour that has resulted in unnecessary and wasted expense in the appeals process”.

The Stray Ferret asked the authority how much the developer had claimed in costs for the dispute.

Trevor Watson, assistant director at planning at North Yorkshire Council, said:

The move comes as the scheme raised concern from residents in Bishop Monkton over drainage and sewage.

In December, Bishop Monkton Action Group urged the government to throw out the appeal.

In a 26-page letter of objection submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, the campaign group said the scheme would “threaten the sustainability of our village”.

The group said it had concerns over the impact on drainage and sewage, as well as a “historic lack of investment” in the area’s sewer system.

Read more:

• Councillors call for building moratorium in Bishop Monkton over flood fears


• Village housing scheme rejected amid fears of sewage in streets


• Developer appeals decision to refuse 23 homes in Bishop Monkton