Avenir Properties of Harrogate, which is planning to build five houses on land just off Coltsgate Hill, claims the local authority, which owns the land, has reduced the agreed size of the plot.

As a consequence, the site isn’t big enough to accommodate two town houses that were included in the original scheme, resulting in the project being financially unviable.

Avenir Properties sales manager Amanda Brayshaw said: “Without discussion or warning the council’s agent has taken it upon themselves to shrink the agreed plot. Regrettably this now renders it impossible for us to viably continue with this much-needed scheme.

“Despite every effort to overcome this sudden departure from what we agreed the future of these five affordable homes is hanging by a thread.

“We are now alerting David Curry MP to our predicament and hopefully he can intervene and make the council come to their senses.”