THE A59 west of York could be diverted to create a bypass for a proposed 2,700-home new settlement.

The sheer scale of “Great Hammerton” has begun to emerge after Harrogate Borough Council officers said they were minded to recommend it as the preferred location for a new settlement to help meet the district’s need for new homes.

Prospective developers CEG have issued computer generated images of what the development – situated between Kirk Hammerton and Green Hammerton – would look like.

They say Great Hammerton would mean new roads, public transport, schools, healthcare, leisure and recreation, new woodland planting and landscaping, parks, a village green, walking and cycling routes and improvements to the existing highway network.

“The scheme also incorporates the potential for downgrading the A59 through Green Hammerton, and re-routing traffic on to a new bypass road,” said Steve McBurney, head of planning north at the Harrogate-based business.

He said Great Hammerton would be a “sustainable mixed-use community, providing characterful new homes and facilities in a way that respects the local setting.”

He added: “We believe that this is the most sustainable solution to meeting housing needs from day one, as it makes use of existing infrastructure, such as the two railway stations which are within walking distance.”

But local residents have said they are shocked and outraged by the proposals, and the infrastructure could not cope with the new residents. Susan Goss-Clements, of a new protest group Keep Green Hammerton Green, said the village school was already oversubscribed, with some children being taught in a communal room.

“We also have up to a three-week wait to see a specific doctor, as our doctors’ surgery is also under pressure with the existing population”, she said

“Villagers are very concerned that developers will prioritise houses over infrastructure with no pressure to build new facilities.”

Officials at Harrogate Borough Council have recommended the site as their preferred option for development rather than alternatives at Flaxby and Cattal.

“We feel the decision to recommend Green Hammerton as the site when there is a clearly better option at Flaxby is a political decision, with the council wanting it as far away from Harrogate as possible,”said Mrs Goss-Clements.

“We understand even the developers of ‘Great Hammerton’ were surprised by the decision.

“The council commissioned a report at taxpayers’ expense which concluded that Green Hammerton was an important and historic village which should be preserved - and now this.”

CEG said the proposals would be carefully designed to respect the historic core and character of Green Hammerton.