PLANS to deliver a mix of new homes and a riverside public park a short walk from Tadcaster’s town centre have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

Eleven Arches the proposed development for land off Wetherby Road is aimed at addressing a chronic local housing shortage which has stunted the town’s growth. Just 27 homes (including only two affordable homes) having been built in Tadcaster since 2011, meaning people have had to leave the town to find a place to live.

An outline application has now been submitted to the council following extensive consultation with the community. It seeks permission for:

• · Up to 410 high-quality new homes, with a range of types to meet local demand
• · Up to 40% to be affordable homes
• · Up to 5,100 sqm of specialist older persons’ accommodation to address local demand
• · A mobility hub including electric vehicle charging points, car club spaces and a school drop-off zone to support the neighbouring primary school
• · Extensive planting, landscaping, public open space and children’s play areas, creating a new riverside park
• · Measures to manage surface water and increase flood resilience

Every aspect of the plan is aimed at addressing issues faced by the town from providing new affordable homes and addressing an identified need for new children’s play spaces; to delivering traffic-calming measures on Wetherby Road. It’s also predicted that the project will boost the town’s economy. As well as generating an estimated £1.82 million in Community Infrastructure Levy payments to be spent in Tadcaster, it would also deliver more than £8 million in council tax payments over 10 years and 169 full time equivalent (FTE) direct jobs during construction.

But one of the biggest changes would be the effect on the vibrancy of Tadcaster’s future, with more people and families helping increase footfall for local businesses and services. Figures from the last decade show the number of children, young people, those of working age and those employed in Tadcaster all declining (compared to increases elsewhere in the region), threatening the long-term viability of local services.

Such is pent up demand that people are already expressing an interest in new affordable homes, which can be done online at: www.elevenarchestadcaster.com

The plans are being brought forward by Gladman Developments Ltd, who is working with the Grimston Park Estate who own the land.

Katherine Putnam, Planning Director at Gladman, said:

“Tadcaster is a really good example of what happens when virtually no new homes are built. You see an aging population as young people and families leave, house prices rocketing and the hyper local economy taking a hit. We’re bringing forward a sustainable and considered plan aimed squarely at reversing those trends.

“Every aspect of the plans we’ve put forward responds to Tadcaster’s needs, from the 40% affordable homes to address a chronic local shortage to greatly increasing accessibility to open green spaces as part of the public park.

“Eleven Arches is not only aimed at helping people find a home and build a life in Tadcaster something that’s currently really hard to do but to inject more vitality into the town centre. Creating opportunities for more people and families to live in the town, spending time and money here, will ultimately shore up the future of local services and support local independent businesses to thrive.”

The plans are available on North Yorkshire Council’s website, with the application reference: ZG2023/1299/EIA. People can now submit comments on the application on the council’s website here: https://public.selby.gov.uk/online-applications/caseDetails.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=S56RTUNX0EX00

Further information can be found at www.elevenarchestadcaster.com, by contacting info@elevenarchestadcaster.com or by calling the community information line 0800 689 1095. You can also follow the project on social media:

· Instagram: @11ArchesTad

· Facebook: facbebook.com/elevenarchestadcaster

Tadcaster context:

Eleven Arches is being brought forward against a unique backdrop in Tadcaster. Bringing more people to live in Tadcaster is essential to regenerating the town, which has experienced changes in social and economic demographics out of step with local, regional and national trends. Key points include:

· 9% drop in the number of children living in Tadcaster since 2001: Compared to a 5.5% increase in Selby District

· 10% drop in the number of young people (16-24) living in Tadcaster since 2001: Compared to an increase of between 10 and 11% locally

· 3% drop in the number of working age people living in Tadcaster in 2001: Compared to an increase of 11% nationally and up to 13% in Selby District

· 56% rise in house prices since 2011: Compared to 20% in England and 42% in Selby District

· 16% drop in employees based in Tadcaster since 2010: Compared to an increase of up to 44% locally (Sherburn in Elmet)