Harrogate Borough Council has refused plans to build 22 “affordable” homes in Staveley.
Jack Lunn Properties hoped to build three one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom homes on Main Street in the village, which is four miles north of Knaresborough.
The site isn’t in the council’s Local Plan outlining where development can take place in the district, which in normal circumstances would mean it’s highly unlikely the development would be granted planning permission.
However, the application had been brought forward through a rural exception scheme, which allows councils to grant planning permission for affordable housing in the open countryside if a developer can prove there is a need for it.
The government defines affordable as homes sold at 80% of the market rate, homes for social rent or sold through shared ownership schemes.
In the council’s refusal, chief planner John Worthington said there were “no exceptional circumstances” for granting the application and that it did not satisfy the requirements of the affordable housing exception scheme.
A similar plan by the same developer to build 23 affordable homes in Scotton was refused last month.
Carl Wright, director of Jack Lunn, said the company was considering an appeal.
He said:
“We’ve only received a copy of the decision today and have yet to fully digest the same. Suffice to say we are somewhat disappointed that the council have included reasons for refusal that we have not been allowed to comment on or respond to prior to issue.
“Naturally this is disappointing to say the least and we will now take further advice from our consultants prior to deciding whether we ought to appeal or take matters further.”
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Villagers formed a group called SV2 to fight against the plans.
Julie Bowland from SV2 said she was relieved that the council refused the proposal.
Ms Bowland said:
“I can only applaud, with a certain level of relief, that planning law has been upheld robustly and with great regard to the potentially catastrophic damage to the Staveley conservation area and the wildlife that proliferates this beautiful village.”
