AN area of land which has outline planning permission for a mixed use development of houses and employment space has been given the go ahead after planning committee members were asked to consider reserved matters.

The site is to the southern edge of the main built up area of the town and accessed from the A629 and Carleton Road.

It is part of a large development known as Wyvern Park which was given outline consent in 2015.

The application by Henry Boot Development Ltd was seeking partial approval for the ground works that would finalise the plateau/ground levels for the approved employment units.

Applicant’s agent Ian Lyle said: “It is a very large and important development for Skipton.

“This (permission) will allow Henry Boot to formulate contracts in terms of future developers on the site.

“Up until now they were held back until they knew what land they had,” he said.

Ward representative Cllr Chris Rose added: “It is an on-going development and residents are very aware and conscious of disruption and traffic movement in and around the site and it is appreciated that some of it can’t be helped.

“I would just really like to make it clear that while we fully appreciate the development is going ahead, that much will be gained from the development i.e. employment and suitable housing,

“As always, can we just ensure that the developer continues to do their level best to keep disruption to a minimum, to keep the road clear, I know that they do wash the road at the end of each day. If that can be maintained to keep disruption to residents to an absolute minimum?”

Cllr Andy Brown said he was concerned about the very wet ground.

“It’s not just been wet for a two weeks, it’s been wet for six months. It’s continually sodden. It does raise the question about whether ground levels are appropriate for drainage etc.”

Cllr Brown said he was equally concerned about parked vehicles along Carleton Road near the crematorium.

“I drive Carleton Road virtually every day and it is extremely difficult when there is a substantial funeral.

Cllr Richard Pringle said one answer to the problem would be for the council to sell a piece of land to build a car park just for crematorium visitors to get parked cars off the 60mph road.

He said: “We as a council own the crematorium. Visibility on the bottom bit is absolutely zero because every time there is a funeral there are 50 cars down there.

“Might I ask that somebody from CDC talks to the developer and buys the first bit in there to use as a car park for the crematorium to stop dangerous access problems?

Cllr Pringle was told his suggestion was not something for the planning committee to consider and did not relate to the reserved matters planning application before them.”

No objections had been received from Skipton Town Council nor the Environment Agency.

Works relating to the approved highways details have already commenced on site and include the current creation of a roundabout along the A629 to provide access into the development site.