PLANS have been unveiled for nearly 600 homes and a new primary school in Norton.

The development, at Beverley Road, will also include a link road to Hugden Way to help reduce traffic congestion through the centre of the town.

National developers, Barratt Homes and Taylor Wimpey Homes , are working jointly on a planning application which is expected to be submitted within the next few months.

Planning consultant Paul Butler told members of Norton Town Council, that land had also been allocated to the south of the link road for a new school.

"The allocation of space for a school means that it could go ahead before housing was built and there is space to the south to expand if this is required in the future," he added.

"We are in the process of getting all the details pulled together and planning the lay out of the housing and hope to progress the application in the next month or so."

Coun David Lloyd-Williams said it was the most appropriate site to solve a number of long-standing issues.

"Hopefully it will bring an end to the congestion in Mill Street and the Brambling Fields junction, which is hardly being used at the moment. will come into its own," he added.

"It will also fulfil the Ryedale Local Plan allocation for 500 houses in Norton and as there is also a need for another school this would avoid developing Brooklyn, as is currently being proposed, which is all well and good."

Peter Morris, Development Director at Barratt Homes, said: "We will now seek to work closely with Ryedale District Council, Norton Town Council, Ward Members and local stakeholders towards the submission of a robust planning application.

"The delivery of new homes at the site will help to meet local housing needs whilst importantly facilitating significant infrastructure benefits to Norton. The development will assist in the delivery of a new link road from Beverley Road to Hugden Way, relieving traffic congestion and HGV movements from the centre of Norton, and it will also make land available to North Yorkshire County Council to be used for the potential development of a new Primary School site for Norton.!

He added: "The proposals will also deliver affordable homes, substantial areas of public open space and significant employment opportunities linked to the construction of the site.

"We are excited at the prospect of delivering a sustainable development proposal that will provide tangible benefits to existing and future residents of Norton. We hope to progress to the submission of a planning application within the next few months, which if approved would mean that the delivery of the proposed benefits could commence within the next two years from now."