Plans to build eight new houses on the site currently occupied by Simpson Civil Engineering Ltd, to the rear of 99 Main Street, have been submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council ahead of the firm's planned move to the Kelleythorpe Industrial Estate.

But concerns over conservation issues and the number of existing sites in the village already approved for development, have led planners to recommend them for refusal, a decision which managing director Nick Simpson says could be detrimental to the future of his business.

"We are hoping to expand the business but how many more we will employ I don't know. The trouble is we are getting restricted here because we can't get the machines in. If we stay here, taking on more staff isn't an option because we can't get any more in," Mr Simpson said.
Planning permission for the relocation of the business to Kelleythorpe was granted last year.

Mr Simpson says a move from the current site, which the company has occupied for 25 years, is essential because his vehicles are finding it increasingly difficult to move through the village.

Mr Simpson said: "We do have problems getting down the street and I have reported it to the council. Only the other week there were vehicles queuing down the road because of our vehicles, so I don't know how a fire engine would get through."

The report, to be considered by the eastern area planning sub-committee on Monday, states that even though the relocation of the business could be of benefit to residents, the times of deliveries are restricted to socially acceptable hours.

"Public protection have no record of complaints and there are no recorded injury accidents on the adjacent highway between 2002 and 2006," the report adds.

Mr Simpson said he had not received any official complaints, but he had received an anonymous letter from a local parent concerned about the safety of school children.

The report also says the design of the new housing development, which would be built on a brownfield site, would harm the adjacent Conservation Area and could lead to the loss of protected trees of amenity value.

Mr Simpson says he is puzzled by this point because the plans submitted have been amended after taking on board initial comments made by the council about the trees.

"We have altered the plans to avoid the trees. We have amended the plans because of the queries they had on it so we have dealt with all the queries they have had so it seems like a waste of time," he said.
If the plans are refused, Mr Simpson says the business will be tied to the Cranswick site despite the money already spent on the Kelleythorpe expansion.