Banks advances 173-acre Eggborough extension

The property and infrastructure group has submitted outline plans for a 1,500-home integrated extension of the North Yorkshire village.

Banks Property said the scheme would offer new low carbon homes, enhanced local transport links, a new primary school and nursery, assisted living units, new areas of accessible public open space, other local services and a range of environmental benefits.

The family firm launched the Eggborough project at the beginning of the year, moving through stages of pre-application consultation, including two Q&A events.

Further consultation will follow, said the County Durham-headquartered firm. DLA Architecture and planner Lichfields are working on the project.

The Eggborough development is being developed in line with the emerging Selby Local Plan. The plot is close to the growing Core 62 and Konect 62 employment hubs, thus providing new housing options for prospective employees at the site.

Banks said it is also looking at options for improving levels of rail and bus connectivity in the area.

Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, says: “This site is included in the draft Selby Local Plan as a housing-led location and offers the opportunity to create a landmark development that will help Eggborough continue to thrive for decades to come.

“We’ve worked hard to share as much information as possible about our ideas across local communities over the last few months and we’re grateful to all those who’ve taken the time to speak to our team about them.

“Increasing the local and regional supply of quality housing will help to attract people to live and work here, which will in turn support the development of the local economy, while ensuring there is affordable quality housing will also mean that everyone can access the housing ladder, most especially local younger people and families who want to
move to or stay in the area.”

Banks Property is part of Banks Group, which has a long track record in Yorkshire across its four divisions, including delivering four onshore wind farms and development projects in Harrogate, Sheffield and Leeds.

By any standards, Banks Group is a heavyweight in property and infrastructure, This year has seen the business push on with partner Bellway at the 2,000-home Killingworth Moor project in the North East, while it has this month agreed to dispose of its renewables business to a Canadian buyer for a reported $1bn.

Jonathan Knowles, director at DLA Architecture, said: “We have created a masterplan with a distinctive design approach that is deliverable in phases to dovetail into the existing settlement, with homes that are low-carbon, energy- and water-efficient, and climate-resilient.

“The plans incorporate affordable housing, a primary school accessible to all Eggborough families, improvements to Whitley Bridge railway station, 70 extra care homes, a small retail facility and potential energy centre to provide a district heating system.

“We have allocated significant areas for new public spaces and wildlife habitat as well as dedicated bus routes and green paths for walking or cycling through the site.”