The North York Moors National Park Authority’s ambition to redevelop The Old Vicarage in Helmsley will be considered on Thursday (September 5) following residents running a concerted campaign opposing the move which would help fund a move to a purpose-built base off Riccall Drive. Even if the proposal is approved, the authority’s members, who are councillors and government appointees, are yet to decide if the business case to relocate stacks up. The proposal has met with most opposition over concerns the popular route through the premises which has been used by residents for decades to access key services on Bondgate could be closed by developers, alongside criticisms that the scheme does not feature any much-needed affordable housing.
While the proposed scheme is for five homes, the authority’s planning rules stipulate developers only need to create affordable homes where at least six homes are built. In a letter to the authority, one objector said: “Young people who work in the national park cannot afford to live in the area, if The Old Vicarage has to be redeveloped shouldn’t it be low cost housing for local families, not high end flats for second homes or holiday lets?” The authority, which has a main purpose to protect the national park’s heritage, has also been accused of “hyprocisy” for seeking to sell the property to avoid renovation costs and of pursuing a “vanity project”. Ahead of the meeting residents have lodged an application with North Yor.