North Yorkshire Council looks set to grant final approval for a scheme to build 200 homes in Harrogate despite "grave concerns" from the local parish council.

Homes England, which is the government's housing agency, wants to build 184 homes on the 8.5-hectare site of the former police training centre off Yew Tree Lane, and convert a lodge to form another 16 dwellings.

The council's Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee is due to adjudicate on the scheme on January 30. A council officer has recommended the application be approved, but the 13-person Liberal Democrat controlled committee can overrule this.

The issue has been rumbling on for years. Homes England was initially granted permission for 161 homes at the site, where more than 1,200 officers a year were trained before it closed in 2011.

It then applied to increase the number to 200 by building on four nearby sports pitches in return for offering £595,000 to create new sports pitches and a playing field at Pannal Community Park on Leeds Road. It also agreed to pay the council £691,965 for "junction mitigation and sustainable transport enhancements".

With outline permission for development already granted, the reserved matters application detailing the layout and design is now coming before councillors.

Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council said in its submission to the consultation:

The site is allocated for housing in the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.

Case officer's Gerard Walsh's report to councillors, which you can view here, recommends approving Homes England's plans, subject to 26 conditions, which include having electric vehicle charging points for every house and installing a cycleway.

The report concludes:

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