BURLEY Developments is making another attempt to build a housing estate opposite Skipton's Waltonwrays cemetery.

The company, owned by Skipton man Michael Wormald, wants to build 43 homes - including 40 per cent at a discounted price - on a site previously used for Burnside allotments, off Carleton Road.

In 2001, the developer was poised to buy the land for £1.2 million from Skipton Town Council, which owns the 7,365 square metre site. Burley applied to Craven District Council to build 50 homes on the land, but scaled this down to 36 following objections from Burnside residents.

They claimed the houses would overlook existing homes on Burnside Crescent and create extra pressure on traffic and local facilities, such as schools and playgrounds. Residents also feared there could be a flooding risk from the nearby beck.

Craven District Council refused the application in September 2001 on the grounds that there was no real need to release the site for housing.

The latest application is for 33 houses and 10 flats, along with 72 parking spaces.

The developer also plans to create a new access road and pedestrian bridge over Eller Beck.

Burley Developments is working with housing association Jephson Housing on the application. It is envisaged there will be 10 flats for rent and four two bedroom houses for shared ownership.

Within the planning application is a flood risk assessment report, compiled by JBA Consulting.

This concluded that there was no risk of flooding on the left hand side of the beck where the houses would be located, but there was a residual chance of flooding on the other bank.