Residential development proposed for former North Yorkshire railway station

Plans have been submitted for the potential conversion of a disused railway station in North Yorkshire into 30 homes, pending approval. Brierley Homes is the developer behind the proposal to transform the former Forge Valley Station site, located at Garth End Road, West Ayton, Scarborough, into a development featuring both private and affordable housing units. The company has applied for partial retrospective consent for the demolition of existing structures, alongside permission for the construction of 30 new residences, complete with car parking facilities, landscaping, and designated green open areas. The proposed scheme includes the conversion of the current Station House into four apartments and the adaptation of the engine shed building for community purposes. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) indicates that the plans specify 20 of the dwellings will be offered for private sale, with 10 properties (30%) designated as affordable housing. The proposal features seven distinct designs for the homes, which will range from one to four bedrooms, with floor areas spanning from 50m sq to 130m sq. The affordable housing component will comprise four one-bedroom dwellings, four two-bedroom properties, and two three-bedroom houses. The location of the site lies across the borders of both the North York Moors National Park (NYMNP) and North Yorkshire Council. The applicant has engaged in discussions regarding the proposals with NYMNP since 2022 and conducted a public consultation event at Ayton Village Hall in March this year. During the consultation phase, the total number of planned properties was decreased from 34, and plots 24 to 26 were removed from the scheme “due to their lack of amenity space”. According to the submitted documentation, the former railway station, which was operational from 1882 to 1950 and subsequently served as the county council highways depot, is presently vacant and in a state of disrepair, with multiple buildings having deteriorated. This location was previously part of a branch line connecting Pickering and Seamer, and it provided service to the scenic area of Forge Valley. Brierley Homes, the applicant, was founded in 2017 by North Yorkshire Council, with the objective to direct the “value generated to support front-line council services across North Yorkshire”. The planning authority has not yet scheduled a date for a decision on the application, which remains under review. Audiences can access highlights from North Yorkshire via BBC Sounds, view the latest episode of Look North, or submit potential news stories here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.