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06
Oct
‘Grave concerns’: Tories blame government for flood of Killinghall housing
Councillors have raised “grave concerns” over the recent flood of housing developments being proposed in Killinghall.
The Stray Ferret revealed last week that over the last 12 months, six new schemes totalling 885 homes have been earmarked for the village.
The latest proposal from Vistry Group and Yorkshire Housing would see another 140 homes built off Nidd Croft.
The developers are holding a public consultation about the Nidd Croft plans in the village hall from 3pm to 7pm today (October 6).
Cllr Sam Gibbs, a Conservative who represents Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate on North Yorkshire Council, said he had concerns over how the planned housing would affect the local road network.
The land at Nidd Croft in Killinghall, which is earmarked for new homes.
In a leaflet to residents, Cllr Gibbs said the Labour government had changed the national planning framework to “force more housebuilding”.
Ministers have increased North Yorkshire’s housing target from 1,361 homes a year to 4,156 a year, which has increased pressure on the council to identify land for new homes.
But Cllr Gibbs said the government was “unwilling to provide the range of infrastructure necessary to support it” and seemed "unconcerned about the negative impact" of so many houses on villages like Killinghall.
He said:
This level of potential housebuilding is crazy, but the government is just not listening.
As an example, we all know the junction of the B6161 and A61 doesn’t work effectively now — I have grave concerns about what would happen if there is more traffic directed towards it.
Cllr Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate on the council, previously said the government’s housing targets had opened the door to speculative developments in places like Killinghall.
Cllr Gibbs (left) alongside fellow Tory Cllr Harrison
Labour aimed to build 1.5 million homes over five years when it formed a government two years ago.
The 2024 Conservative manifesto pledged to build 1.6 million homes and the Liberal Democrats said they would build 1.9 million homes.
Labour says its housing plans will help more people buy their own homes, and drive growth and that the 1.5 million target "will make sure local authorities plan for the homes that are proportionate to the size of existing communities".
Killinghall's six schemes
The Stray Ferret analysed the last 12 months of housing proposals for Killinghall and found that the area is braced for 885 new homes from six proposals — should they all be approved.
Not all the schemes have been formally submitted — and none have been given the green light at this stage — but five of them are for 100 or more dwellings.
If all the schemes get the go-ahead, the population of Killinghall could rise by 2,000.
Among the proposed developments are:
- 75 homes by Miller Homes on land at Picking Croft Lane, just off Otley Road
- 130 homes by Hallam Land off Otley Road
- 100 homes by Gladman Developments off Otley Road
- 120 homes by Bellway off Ripon Road
- 140 homes by Vistry Group and Yorkshire Housing off Nidd Croft
- 320 homes by Taylor Wimpey off Pennypot Lane and Oaker Bank
Last night's Killinghall Parish Council meeting also discussed plans for 1,100 homes at Burley Bank, which is also in Killinghall, albeit away from the village centre.
The sheer scale of development has galvanised residents to band together to oppose the number of schemes amid concern over lack of infrastructure and amenities.
You can read our interview with the residents group, Killinghall Together, here and our analysis of the new housing schemes planned for Killinghall here.
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