A PROPERTY developer's decision to pull the plug on an affordable housing project in Ripon has been blamed on council "indecision".

Plans for five homes for key workers, in the city's Coltsgate Hill, have been on the drawing board for almost two years.

Developer Avenir Properties announced last Friday that it was scrapping the plans. The company blamed what it called North Yorkshire County Council's "indecision and lack of communication".

The company is now looking at submitting a fresh set of proposals for the land, which will not include affordable homes.

Sales manager Amanda Brayshaw said: "It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we have made this decision. For almost two years, we have been trying to get this much-needed scheme off the ground.

"However, we have been faced with nothing but obstacles.

"The final straw is the authority's inability to make a decision and its lack of communication.

"The Government constantly goes on about the need for social housing and the importance of affordable homes.

"Sadly, we have been left with no option but to pull the plug on this scheme, which is the last thing we wanted to do.

"We are now going back to the drawing board and will be submitting a new set of plans.

"Ripon is the loser here."