A new council is set to take over in the Harrogate district in three weeks’ time.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council will make way for North Yorkshire Council on April 1.

The move throws up questions over housing and planning in the district – in particular, who will make the decisions?

In this article, we will explain how key decisions over housing, new businesses and a Local Plan for the Harrogate area will be made.

Who currently makes planning decisions?

Currently, any decision over permission to build new homes or businesses in the Harrogate district is made by Harrogate Borough Council.

The council is the local planning authority – meaning any applications must be submitted to it.

Officials at the council then make decisions on whether to approve or refuse permission for a development.

Some applications may go to a council planning committee, which is made up of local councillors, to make a decision.

What will change from April?

From April, the borough council will no longer exist.

This means that the new North Yorkshire Council will become the local planning authority.

Any proposals to build new homes of businesses will have to be submitted to the new council.

It will then make decisions on new developments in the Harrogate district.

How will it make decisions?

North Yorkshire Council has proposed setting up two committees to deal with planning applications.

The first will be a strategic planning committee in Northallerton which will deal with major proposals, such as plans for 500 or more homes and employment sites.

There will also be a sub-committee on the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee, which will deal with proposals of 500 homes or less.

Similarly, plans for Ripon would be overseen by the Ripon and Skipton Area Constituency Committee.

What about the Harrogate district Local Plan?

Under the new council, a fresh Local Plan will be drawn up.

The plan will show where land can be used for housing and employment over the next 15 years.

It means that the current Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35 is set to be scrapped.

Read more:

• Councillor calls for housebuilding in Harrogate to be paused
• Harrogate councillors approve transfer of council-owned companies
• Explained: What happens to bin collections in Harrogate after devolution?

The Harrogate district has woken to its worst snow of the winter. Amber and yellow weather warnings remain in place all morning and roads are treacherous.

Please send news of how the weather is affecting your school, roads and neighbourhood so we can add it to the blog. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

12.39pm: Ice warning for tonight

A @metoffice warning for ice is in place across #NorthYorkshire until 10am tomorrow. A warning for #snow and #ice is also in place from 3pm tomorrow until 6am on Sunday.

Please take care when out and about.

Find out more at https://t.co/hUMWZu9ntv pic.twitter.com/6zjLqfCNjJ

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

12.08pm: Council says it ‘stood down’ today’s bin collections

Due to the weather conditions overnight, and the sub-zero temperatures predicted tonight and into tomorrow, we have made the decision to stand down today’s (10 March) household waste and recycling collections…

Find out more at: https://t.co/F9iIHqV6GD

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 10, 2023

11.42am: Minus nine degrees tonight?

The BBC weather forecast is currently forecasting a minimum temperature of minus nine degrees tonight. The Met Office, however, is predicting no lower than minus four degrees.

Either way, it is going to be cold and with standing snow conditions could be treacherous.

11.31am – Commercial Street in Harrogate ‘passable’

Commercial Street is “open for business” and “passable”, say businesses.

❄️Commercial Street is quite passable & OPEN for business❄️

☕️Don’t forget we’ve got 2 fab indie businesses to keep you warm with delish hot drinks – Bean & Bud and Lilly’s Cafe! ☕️

Find out more on our website https://t.co/UoImSxseXl#shoplocal #indie #Harrogate #snow pic.twitter.com/HWcapDPjsV

— Commercial Street (@Commercial_St) March 10, 2023

11.20am – More Harrogate pictures

More pictures of Harrogate covered in snow this morning on Montpellier and the Stray.

11.10am – Household waste recycling centres reopen

North Yorkshire County Council has announced its household waste recycling centres in Harrogate have reopened.

All of our household waste recycling centres have now reopened, except for #Leyburn. pic.twitter.com/A8Ldz5u5t2

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

11.05am – Ripon covered in snow

A nice aerial shot of Ripon market square and the cathedral sent into us by Paul Smith.

10.55am – Picturesque Knaresborough

Knaresboroughphotography has shared this picture with us on Instagram. Perfect for a postcard.

10.45am – Stray pictured in the snow

Ian Wilkie has sent some beautiful pictures of the Harrogate Stray pictured in the snow, along with a snowman.

10.35am – RHS Harlow Carr to reopen at midday

RHS Harlow Carr is set to reopen at midday today. However, play areas will be closed.

⚠️ Garden reopening at 12pm – 10 March ⚠️

We'll be reopening at noon today with a limited route around the garden – play areas will be closed. It will be half price tickets for payers.

Grab the camera and snow boots to enjoy a winter wonderland ❄ pic.twitter.com/S6Yr3HPku5

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) March 10, 2023

10.24am – West Harrogate recycling centre closed.

The West Harrogate recycling centre at Pennypot Lane is also closed this morning due to snow.

Thornton-le-Dale and West #Harrogate household waste recycling centres are also currently closed due to the #snow. pic.twitter.com/6038uUcNPK

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

10.15am – Belmont Grosvenor headmaster gives snowman advice

With pupils learning from home, Nathan Sadler, headmaster at Belmont Grosvenor School, has issued the following advice to parents:

In terms of learning from home, if you get the opportunity with your children, please can you:

• make snow balls
• roll in the snow – make snow angels!
• build a snowman
• sledge
• drink hot chocolate
• HAVE FUN!

Here he is pictured with his family and their snowman.

10.05am – Harrogate recycling centre is closed

North Yorkshire County Council has announced the household waste recycling centre on Wetherby Road is currently closed due to the snow.

The following household waste recycling centres are currently closed due to the #snow:
– #Harrogate Stonefall
– #Leyburn
– #Settle
– #Skipton pic.twitter.com/EfrQRGm9yS

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) March 10, 2023

10am – The view from Pateley Bridge

Joyce Liggins has sent this picture in of Pateley Bridge covered in snow this morning.

9.25am – No waste and recycling collections this morning

Harrogate Borough Council has announced that its waste and recycling teams currently are not collecting this morning.

Due to this morning's conditions, our waste and recycling crews aren't currently collecting.

We are keeping a close eye on the weather and road conditions and will provide an update later in the day. pic.twitter.com/o4pc5wNSGF

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 10, 2023

9.15am – Snow pictures from across Harrogate

9am – Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal closed

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has announced it will be closed today.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is closed this morning due to the snow. Please don’t travel here as the car parks are closed and the paths are not safe. Take care on the roads and keep an eye on the website for all live updates. https://t.co/tyiQ88giPV pic.twitter.com/x0cdXUG7eS

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) March 10, 2023

8.30am – Full list of school closures

Here is the full list of school closures in the Harrogate district.

6.39am: Bus service cancellations

The Harrogate Bus Company is warning of problems and providing a link to more information.

⚠️ Due to the current weather conditions we have a number of diversions and cancellations in place.

ℹ️ Please see the link for further details: https://t.co/0dCzYc3pFH

We apologise for any inconvenience@MetroTravelNews pic.twitter.com/7VEpbzFYdP

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) March 10, 2023

6.34am: Pannal school closes

6.30am: Two schools announce closures

Admiral Long Primary School, Burnt Yates and Belmont Grosvenor School in Birstwith have emailed to tell us they have closed today.

Has your school closed? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will include it in this blog.

Harrogate Grammar School is set to host a walk in memory of a former student.

Dom Sowa took his life in 2017, aged 17.

The school will be participating in the fundraising event Hopewalk on Sunday (March 12) from 10am at Swinsty reservoir.

The walks take place across the UK in support of Papyrus – a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

Harrogate Grammar is inviting others to join in at Swinsty and help raise awareness of suicide prevention.

More information on the route of the walk can be found here. Those taking part are asked meet at the car park.

Read more:

• Harrogate Grammar School pays tribute to Seb Mitchell
• Harrogate Mojo bid to open until 6.30am approved

A Harrogate district theatre company has been saved by a £24,383 grant from Arts Council England.

Badapple Theatre Company, which is based in Green Hammerton, was awarded the funding ahead of its 25th anniversary.

The theatre, set up by Kate Bramley in 1998, aims to take productions to harder to reach areas of Yorkshire and across the country.

Ms Bramley said:

“It has been a hard few years for everyone in the arts and for Badapple too.

We were delighted to have survived the covid lockdowns in good shape, making sure we found new ways to keep our communities engaged and upbeat, particularly our youth theatre. 

“But two unsuccessful requests for funding support from the Arts Council across the autumn and winter of 2022 meant we were looking at having to close the company this year. All our reserves of finance and energy had gone, quite frankly.”

She added:

“So this support means a huge amount to us and the small communities that we serve right across the country — on this upcoming project from Somerset to Northumberland — in all the small places where we can spread a bit of theatre joy and bring folk together.”

The funding will also go towards Badapple’s Youth Theatre, which meets weekly in Green Hammerton during term time. 

The company is set to embark on a national tour of the 1960s comedy Eddie and the Gold in April as part of its 25th anniversary.

Read more:

• ‘Theatre on your doorstep’ returns to communities across Harrogate district
• ‘Britain’s biggest tractor run’ set to return to Harrogate district on Sunday

Network Rail has installed a passcode protected gate to keep people off the railtracks in Knaresborough.

The new gate has been put in place at Green Lane level crossing, near the Trinity Fields housing development in the town, to prevent trespassing.

Officials at the organisation worked with Harrogate Borough Council to install the facility.

Network Rail said an average of 20 to 25 people such as dog walkers or joggers illegally used the level crossing each day.

It added that in 2022 the gates were recklessly left open 20 times, posing a real risk for children, vulnerable people and animals.

The access to private land from Green Lane level crossing.

Darren Lord, north and east route level crossing manager for Network Rail, said: 

“We’re really proud to have worked with Harrogate Borough Council and the housing developers to champion this simple, quick-thinking solution which will vastly reduce risk and improve safety for the community.

“The railway isn’t the place to take a shortcut and we have to put safety first. With the new gate in place, the level crossing will be able to do what it was designed for – to help people safely cross over the railway on to their private land and remove the risk for the public.

“You can never predict when the next train is coming, so entering the railway where you’re not supposed to can be incredibly dangerous and lead to fatal or life-changing injuries.”

Read more:

• Cost of Harrogate to Leeds rail season ticket rises to almost £2,000
• Traffic order issued to close part of Harrogate’s James Street to vehicles

The new gate will be used by authorised people to access the level crossing to reach private land.

Those people have been given the keycode and briefed on how to use the new system safely.

Cllr Tim Myatt, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for planning, added: 

“We want to ensure all residents are kept as safe as possible.

“By working with Network Rail and the housing developer to introduce this anti-trespass measure we can help prevent people illegally trespassing on to the railway.

“This measure will also help ensure the gate is not recklessly left open, reducing the risk for children, vulnerable people and animals.”

Harrogate Borough Council is to press ahead with plans to purchase land near Pateley Bridge cemetery to expand burial space at the site.

Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources at the authority, approved spending £32,500 to purchase 2.5 acres of land in the town.

The borough council said it would now begin the process to purchase the land, which is owned by Pateley Bridge Town Council.

It is hoped the expansion will create enough burial space for the next 300 years.

James Bean, estates surveyor at the council, said in a report that the cemetery is expected to reach capacity for burials in the next two years.

He said:

“The cemetery at Pateley Bridge is soon to reach capacity and a solution for its longer term use needs to be established.

“Colleagues in the bereavement services team have identified an area of land next to the cemetery for possible expansion which would provide burial space for over 300 years.”

Work at the site will require planning consent following the purchase in order for the cemetery to expand.

Read more:

• Gallery: Stunning photos of Nidderdale in winter
• Asylum seekers given woodland conservation experience in Nidderdale

A developer has submitted plans to build 73 homes in a Harrogate district village.

Thomas Alexander Homes, which is based in Leeds, has tabled the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council for land off Minskip Road near to Staveley Nature Reserve.

Staveley is midway between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge and has a population of about 440.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust says the nature reserve, which the charity owns, is a “superb wetland” containing otters and orchids.

The plan would see a mixture of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom houses built. The developer has also earmarked 40% of the homes as affordable.

The site is allocated for housing in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-2035, which details where development can take place.

The developer said in its plans that the site represented a “logical extension” to the village.

It said:

“The proposal forms a logical extension to Staveley, the local authority concurred with this assessment by allocating the site for residential development to the scale of approximately 72 dwellings.”

Read more:

• Staveley villagers begin fight against 22-home development
• Lost planning appeals have cost Harrogate district taxpayers £209,000 in legal fees

However, residents have raised concern over potential housing on the site.

Graham Bowland, from the Staveley Residents Action Group, said a meeting was held at the village hall this week to raise objections to the plan.

He said:

“We successfully fought off development before and now we have an application for 73 homes on the field known as SV1 on the Minskip Road opposite the Staveley Nature Reserve.

“It will increase the size of the village by 35%, but sadly despite significant objections from residents and the parish council at the time, it still went into the local plan.”

A decision on the plan will be made at a later date.

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate chartered accountants has been acquired by a national wealth management company.

Evelyn Partners has take over Leathers LLP, which has an office on Haggs Road.

The deal will see Evelyn Partners, which has offices and departments across the country, expand its services into the north of England.

Andrew Wilkes, chief professional services director of Evelyn Partners, said: 

“We are delighted to have acquired Leathers LLP. Michael Leather has built a highly respected firm with a great client base and one which is a very complementary fit with Evelyn Partners both in terms of expertise and culture. 

“Strategically this acquisition will further develop our professional services presence in the North of England, supporting our ambition of being able to provide our range of professional services to private clients and businesses right across the UK. 

“I look forward to welcoming Stuart Wright and Ryan Harrison to the partnership group where their expertise and experience will be a great asset to us in developing our professional services offering in the North of England.”

Michael Leather, senior partner and founder of Leathers LLP, said: 

“Forward planning, client service and development of the team have been at the forefront of our success but in a changing environment, it is time for the business to gear up, extend the resources available to clients and to further develop the client service offering.

“Identifying the best way to do this has been challenging, but Evelyn Partners’ clear commitment to developing the business and their range and depth of resource have been key to the decision we took.”

Raworths makes new appointment

A Harrogate solicitors has announced a new appointment to its legal team.

Raworths, which has offices on Station Parade, has hired Lucy Allen as a paralegal.

Lucy Allen. Picture: Raworths.

Ms Allen will join the trusts, wills and estates team at the solicitors.

The move comes as Raworths announced its latest senior promotion last month as Adam Colville-Robins joined the dispute resolution team as an associate.

Mr Colville-Robins’ appointment was the latest in a series of promotions over the past year overseen by managing partner, Simon Morris.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Two Harrogate small businesses win regional awards
• Business Breakfast: New Diploma qualification launched by Yorkshire School of Garden Design

North Yorkshire Police has launched an arson investigation after a fire last night at the Kimberley Hotel in Harrogate.

Eight fire engines were called to the blaze at the hotel off Kings Road at around 11pm. Half the main building was damaged by smoke and an annex was destroyed.

Firefighters closed the road for several hours.

A spokesperson for the police confirmed to the Stray Ferret that officers are now investigating the incident as arson.

They said:

“The incident has been confirmed as arson and a police investigation has been commenced.

“Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area, or anyone who has any information which would assist officers with their enquiries is asked to contact the force control room on 101, quoting reference 12230042171.”

Pictures of the damage caused by the fire inside the hotel. Picture: Harrogate Fire Station.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s incident log this morning said:

“Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Tadcaster, Northallerton, Skipton and Malton along with the aerial ladder platform responded to reports of smoke issuing from a disused hotel.

“Crews used 20 breathing apparatus, four hose reel jets, one main jet and lance, lighting, thermal imaging cameras, small tools, door enforcer, hydraulic spreaders, reciprocating saw, drills and a triple extension ladder to fight the fire.

“The fire caused 100% fire damage to the annex measuring 10m by 10m and caused 5% fire damage and 50% smoke damage to the main building.”

The hotel off Kings Road has recently being subject to drug and crime concerns.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s former Kimberley Hotel being used for drugs and crime, say police
• Kimberley Hotel owner goes into liquidation amid £3.5m debts
• Harrogate’s former Kimberley Hotel being used for drugs and crime, say police

The government has “refused to consider” funding the costs of additional work on a now scrapped care reform scheme in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council was one of six pilot authorities chosen by the Department of Health and Social Care for the project, which would have seen a cap of £86,000 placed on each individual’s spending on their care in their lifetime.

The reforms would also have allowed people to retain up to £100,000 of their own assets and still qualify for funding for their care. The current limit is £23,250.

However, the government has since informed councils the scheme is being abandoned after initially delaying it until October 2025.

The council carried out an overhaul of its IT system as part of the move and looks set to absorb any additional costs associated with staffing into its own budget.

It was awarded £1,159,684 in funding from government as part of the pilot.

But despite this initial funding, the Department of Health and Social Care has refused to contribute to the ongoing costs.

Anton Hodge, assistant director for strategic resources at the council, said in a report due before councillors on Friday:

“Although funding already received to cover costs in 2022/23 will not be required to be repaid, we and other trailblazers have pointed out the ongoing costs of staff already appointed in support of the project and we continue to pursue that aspect.

“However at this stage the Department of Health and Social Care has refused to consider any contribution towards these and therefore any continuing costs will have to be consumed within existing budgets.”

Read more:

• Reassurances issued over ‘onerous’ social care revamp across Harrogate district
• Social care pilot scheme in Harrogate district ‘could bankrupt council’ without more funding

Senior councillors had previously warned that the pilot could “bankrupt councils” if more funding was not made available.

Cllr Michael Harrison, the Conservative executive member for adult services at the council, said much of the work for the trailblazer was taken on by staff taking on additional responsibilities.

He added:

“The county council was asked by the Department of Health and Social Care to be one of six national sites for testing adult social care charging reforms. Early funding was identified nationally to support this work.

“Given that the bulk of this work involved frontline social care and customer services staff undertaking additional responsibilities, the national funding has been used to enhance existing staffing levels rather than to create separate new posts.”

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“The department is grateful to all the trailblazers for their work on charging reform and has been working closely with them to understand any costs incurred as a result of their work to date.”