Plans to build an estate of 29 new homes on the outskirts of Gargrave have been given the go ahead.

Craven councillors this week approved plans for the greenfield site between the A65 and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, but stressed the scheme was still in outline only.

Site owner Simon Curtis will now have two years to find a developer and come back with detailed plans – including the layout, size and design of the houses – before the estate can be built.

Councillors, concerned about “land-banking”, were advised against restricting the amount of time before the submission of detailed plans because of the risk of appeal against the council.

On Monday, Craven District Council’s planning committee was recommended to approve the scheme, despite it being outside the built-up limits of the village, because of a shortfall in the council’s five-year land supply. Even with the 29 houses approved, Craven would be short of its land supply by 49 units, councillors were told.

In exchange for the houses, Gargrave would receive £78,000, some of which would be used to improve the canal bank along the towpath next to the new homes, although the majority would go towards sports facilities in the village.

The committee was told ten of the homes would be affordable to meet demand in the village.

The estate would be accessed via an improved access to the site and there would be improvements to the A65, including the shifting of a road island and the 30mph speed limit, and the creation of a footway to the village.

Gargrave Parish Council had raised several concerns, including it being an overdevelopment of the site and potential problems with traffic and pedestrians.

A neighbour of the proposed development told councillors he feared for the safety of the new residents trying to access the houses off the A65.

“The traffic there is frightening, you would be putting lives at risk,” he said.

But councillors agreed they had little option but to approve the scheme because of the council’s current position with a shortfall of five- year land supply.

Ward member Coun Alan Sutcliffe (Cons) said the proposals had been preceded by a leaflet drop in the village that had left many with the impression it was a full application. He stressed only permission for the access and principle of the development was being sought and all design matters would have to get the further approval of the committee.

Coun Sutcliffe, who proposed approval, reminded councillors that in the absence of a local plan and with the council still under its land supply target, it was some way off being able to take a more arbitrary approach to such housing developments.