PROPOSED house building targets for North Yorkshire of more than 4,200 per year are 'unsustainable' and likely to have a 'negative impact', said the MP for Skipton.

Conservative, Sir Julian Smith, asked about the government's proposed housing target at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council, said while agreeing new homes were needed, he believed the target (of 4,232) was not sustainable.

"In principle, I agree with pushing forward with developing in the right places," he told the Skipton and Ripon Constituency meeting in Skipton.

"We have got young people across the area who are still struggling to find homes, it is very challenging for agricultural workers. But this target figure of 4,000 odd is just unsustainable and is going to have a negative effect."

Asked by councillor Simon Myers (Con, Mid-Craven) whether he would work with other North Yorkshire MPs to try and achieve 'the best end result for Craven', he said he would and added: "I think the Labour Mayor (of North Yorkshire) will be able to influence the debate as well."

Cllr Nathan Hull (Con & Ind, Washburn and Birstwith) suggested members could "get around a table" to talk about what each area wanted in terms of housing.

He said: "We have a massive rural housing problem, but I'm not convinced we need another 4,000 homes on top.

"There is an opportunity for us to deliver on rural housing, but we need to send a message to government to pull back."

Cllr Myers advised waiting until the actual figures had been released and until then, there would be 'constructive consultation' with government.

"Can we wait until the government has published its policy before we all start scatter-gunning off and saying we are outraged and that the whole place is going to be concreted over.

"We don't actually know what the housing targets are going to be; lets leave it until we do. In the meantime, the council will put the appropriate constructive responses to the government, and hope we can help them shape delivery for our residents."

Cllr Myers added that he would like to see the council proactively look for potential sites for housebuilding instead of inviting sites to be put forward as part of the process of putting together the next North Yorkshire local plan.

"It is all very well to sit back and wait for developers, the other way is to be proactive and for the council to look for sustainable sites and to work with the combined authority to deliver those sites."

North Yorkshire Council's executive member for planning policy, Cllr Mark Crane, has previously said that the council believes the suggested housing target of 4,232 new homes 'may be difficult to achieve' but that it is a proposal and policies and numbers 'could change'.