Harrogate Borough Council has exceeded its house-building target by almost 1,700 homes over the last three years, according to new government figures.
Statistics released in the government’s Housing Delivery Test reveal the district needed 987 new homes to meet demand between 2018 and 2021 – but 2,682 were delivered.
That is 1,641 homes – or 266% – above the target and has sparked fresh questions over whether this level of new housing is being matched with improvements in Harrogate’s struggling infrastructure, schools and health services.
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson argued the government figures are only a minimum target and that its own ambitions in its Harrogate district Local Plan take greater account of the desperate need for more affordable housing.
They also described the current level of house-building as a “positive step” to tackle this problem.
The spokesperson said:
“Our adopted Local Plan, underpinned by local evidence of housing need, seeks to tackle a number of long standing local issues.
“In particular, families and young people are facing increasing difficulty in buying their own home due to a lack of houses and high house prices.
“Local businesses also tell us that they struggle to recruit locally due to the high cost of housing.
“The level of new housing included in the Local Plan will help to address these issues and support our economic ambitions.”
It was six years in the making but the Local Plan was finally adopted in 2020 when Harrogate set its own target of delivering 637 new homes each year until 2035.
And while there was some controversy over which sites were allocated for development, local politicians of all stripes agreed it was better to have a plan, than no plan at all.
Housing ‘free for all’
Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the council’s opposition Liberal Democrat group, described the six years prior to the Local Plan’s adoption as a “free for all” of uncontrolled house-building.
She also said while the Local Plan has handed Harrogate greater control over its housing future, it had yet to be matched with meaningful improvements for communities which will feel the long-term effects of dramatic population growth.
Cllr Marsh
“The Lib Dems are very concerned about our infrastructure; it is not fit for purpose.
“The council now has a Community Infrastructure Levy, but before that the council could only ask for monies from developers if their development had a negative impact on existing nearby residents.
“Schools have been able to get monies through the legal Section 106 agreement to help with any extensions required because of the development but until very, very recently secondary schools were not considered or included at all.
“Medical services have never been included which is again ridiculous with all these extra demands on our doctors and dental services, police and our hospital.
“The government wants houses, but does not give councils the real powers to achieve what is required for the local infrastructure needs for all these large developments.”
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Parameters plan approved
Defending its record, the council also pointed towards the West Harrogate Parameters Plan – which sets out the needs for an extra 4,000 homes – as a measure to ensure the area has the “necessary infrastructure to support future communities”.
The plan has been recommended for approval at a meeting today and while it has been praised by the council, those living in the area have complained it does not go far enough and is being approved too soon to balance the impacts of what will be Harrogate’s biggest urban expansion in decades.
David Siddans, secretary of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, said:
“Since 2018 we have been arguing that Harrogate Borough Council are planning for far more houses than the district actually needs, amounting to many thousands.
“Now they are giving developers permission for hundreds more on top of that, nearly all of them on greenfield sites.
“Every new house over and above the numbers needed adds to carbon emissions and also increases the pressure on infrastructure.
“From what we have seen with the emerging West Harrogate Parameters Plan, the authority is suggesting that a bus every 30 minutes and a shared footway/cycleway will address the travel needs of the additional 6,000 or so population, with minimal other changes to the network.
“We have also expressed our concern at the additional demands that will be placed on education, and the lack of a coherent strategy for secondary schooling.”
Mr Siddans added:
Traffic and Travel Alert: Arthurs Avenue due to close for roadworks“We, along with other organisations in the area, say that the council should not be approving the parameters plan until full details of the infrastructure package is agreed.
“We understand that is not expected before May this year.
“We have no confidence that this will happen and it is likely that developers will again be given the green light with the wider infrastructure needs remaining unaddressed.”
Arthurs Avenue in Harrogate is due to be closed for roadworks.
The road is set to close from 8am today until 5pm and will be shut for works until Friday, February 25.
According to a North Yorkshire County Council traffic order, the road is being closed for work to repair the carriageway.
Road closure signs on Arthurs Avenue.
The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.
We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.
Harrogate district continues clean-up after Storm Franklin
Residents and businesses are continuing the clean up in the wake of Storm Franklin which left many areas across the Harrogate district flooded.
Storm Franklin left many areas under water yesterday as heavy rain hit the district.
Follow our live blog for updates and send details of what’s happening in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Masham and all points in between by emailing contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook.
2.40pm – River level in Boroughbridge
A picture posted by James Wilkinson on social media shows the current level of the River Ure in Boroughbridge.
2.35pm – Bewerley Recreation Park under water
Our reporter has captured these pictures this afternoon of Bewerley Recreation Park near Pateley Bridge flooded.
2pm – Road closures across North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire County Council has released a list of road closures, including some in the Harrogate district.
The roads are listed as closed or passable with care.
(2/4) – A168 near Thornton le Street
– B1223 The Fleet, RytherClosed:
– Road into Kirby Wiske
– Sandhill Lane (road to Holme on Swale from B6267
– Eldmire Lane
– Dalton Lane
– Occany Lane, Farnham
– East Farm to Grey Gables, Laverton/Ripon
– Catttal Moor Lane, Cattal pic.twitter.com/SpwSjRAMfm— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 21, 2022
(4/4) Closed:
– Morton on Swale Bridge
– Little Langton
– B1257 Golder Square to Stockings Lane
– Intake Lane, Beal
– Raw Lane/New Lane, Ulleskelf
– New Road Ulleskelf
– B6160 between Linton Crossroads and Threshfield highways depo pic.twitter.com/RA8Pc7bWOD— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 21, 2022
1.47pm – Knaresborough residents assess Storm Franklin flood damage
Knaresborough residents and business owners have begun to assess the damage caused by Storm Franklin after many were forced to evacuate their homes due to flooding.
The storm brought heavy rainfall to the area over the weekend and caused the banks of the River Nidd to break, leaving many houses in the surrounding area at risk.
You can read more here.
1.10pm – Dishforth Road water levels beginning to subside
Water levels on the flooded Dishforth Road near Ripon are beginning to subside and some motorists are now attempting to pass through the road.
Meanwhile, a blue Audi which was abandoned on the road earlier is still awaiting recovery.
12.55pm – Plea for better drains in Pateley Bridge after floods
Businesses and residents are calling for the drains to be improved in Pateley Bridge after the town flooded again yesterday.
Pateley has flooded frequently in recent years and the bottom of High Street was under water again in the early hours of Sunday
You can read more here.
12.45pm – Pateley Bridge devastated by flooding
Our reporter Suzannah Rogerson has been on greenwood Road in Pateley Bridge, which was hit hard by Storm Franklin this past weekend.
You can see the current situation in the town below:
12.06pm – Marigolds Cafe in Knaresborough. hopes to reopen tomorrow.
Justine Connolly, who co-owns Marigolds Cafe on Waterside, was forced to close the cafe on Sunday morning just as Storm Franklin was approaching the district.
She tells the Stray Ferret she hopes to reopen tomorrow. You can read more here.
11.40am – Ure expected to peak at midday as Boroughbridge bridge remains closed
Boroughbridge Emergency Response Team update has issued a flood update. It says:
“The Ure has burst its banks and is currently at 15.3m and holding steady, but not due to peak until midday today. The road is closed.
“That said people are still driving through causing great problems for home owners that are flooded. It is illegal to ignore a road closure and those that do will be reported.
“Yorkshire Water are in the car park to prevent flooding there. We have just witnessed a huge tree crashing down at the side of the river so if you are out walking take care.”
10.15am – Knaresborough resident speaks of being evacuated from floods
Margaret Pearson, a resident at Nidderdale Lodge caravan park, has been speaking to the Stray Ferret this morning about her experience of the flooding yesterday.
You can watch the interview below.
10.05am – Copgrove Lane flooded
Copgrove Lane in Knaresborough is currently flooded. Drivers are urged to avoid the area.
9.35am – Advice from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
Harrogate Fire Station has issued advice this morning to avoid flooded roads as water is still coming down from the hills.
9.23am – Ripon flooding footage
A Stray Ferret reader has shared this footage from Urebank Terrace in Ripon this morning, which has been hit hard by the floods.
9.18am – Studley Royal, Water Garden and Fountains Abbey all closed
The Studley Royal, Water Garden and Fountains Abbey at Ripon are all closed this morning due to the devastating floods yesterday.
National Trust park rangers are at the entrance to advise would-be visitors of the temporary closure.
9.10am – B6275 at Boroughbridge this morning
The B6275 at Boroughbridge this morning, which is closed due to flooding.
B6275 at Boroughbridge currently closed due to flooding pic.twitter.com/obQ7nZaN9M
— HBCEmergencyPlanning (@HBCPrepared) February 21, 2022
8.55am – Pictures of the River Nidd this morning
Here’s how the River Nidd and Nidderdale Lodge caravan park at Knaresborough look this morning.
Earlier, the Environment Agency said river levels on the Nidd had “peaked”.
8.39am – Reports of tree down at Mother Shiptons
Stray Ferret reader Nicola Johnson has shared an update that a tree is blocking the road near Mother Shiptons in Knaresborough.
If you have any further information on this you can email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or message us on Facebook.
8.30am – Bridge in Boroughbridge closed
The bridge in Boroughbridge has closed to traffic. River levels on the Ure have increased and traffic is being turned around in both directions.
8.20am – Flooding in Hampsthwaite
A Stray Ferret reader has sent this footage from flooding in Hampsthwaite yesterday.
8.05am – Boroughbridge Road at Hewick Bridge closed
Boroughbridge Road at Hewick Bridge, near Ripon Racecourse, is closed after the River Ure burst its banks.
It leaves routes into and out of Ripon limited, however traffic is still flowing on the bypass and the route to the A1 remains clear.
7.55am – Pateley Bridge bus services cancelled
Harrogate Bus Company has had to cancel some services to Pateley Bridge this morning due to flooding.
⚠️ Due to flooding in Pateley Bridge, the following journeys on the 24 are unable to run:
07.40 – Harrogate to Pateley Bridge
09.00 – Pateley Bridge to Harrogateℹ️ next buses – 2 hours
Our apologies for any inconvenience caused
@northyorkscc
— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) February 21, 2022
7.45am – Environment Agency: River Nidd levels “have peaked”
The Environment Agency has said this morning that river levels on the River Nidd have peaked.
However, a flood warning remains in place
River levels have now peaked in the upper catchments of the #Wharfe and #Nidd and our focus is turning to #York and #Tadcaster where levels will peak tomorrow morning. Check your flood risk now https://t.co/j6ls7uqAIb pic.twitter.com/bYfgvMygMp
— Environment Agency – Yorkshire & North East (@EnvAgencyYNE) February 21, 2022
7.35am – Drivers urged to avoid Dishforth Road near Ripon
Drivers are urged to avoid Dishforth Road due to flooding near to the Ripon bypass.
One driver has had to abandon their car due to the flood.
7.22am – Police urge drivers to avoid low-lying roads
North Yorkshire Police has urged people to avoid low-lying roads and footpaths as Storm Franklin continues to cause disruption.
🚶♀️Avoid using local low-lying footpaths & bridges near watercourses, and do not attempt to drive through floodwater.
🚗Please plan driving routes to avoid low-lying roads near rivers that may be flooded.Stay safe everyone. pic.twitter.com/NKQ92o0Ow0
— North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) February 21, 2022
7.20am – Yellow weather warning of strong wind
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for strong wind in the Harrogate District.
The warning is in place until 1pm today and may cause disruption on the roads and to public transport.
7.15am – River Nidd flood warning remains in place
A flood warning remains in place for the River Nidd at Knaresborough this morning.
The Environment Agency has warned that river levels have fallen since yesterday, but remain higher than normal.
The Environment Agency adds on its website:
Knaresborough cafe owner speaks of flood devastation“Areas at risk are locations near the River Nidd, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around Riverside properties situated along the Waterside, Abbey Road, Spital Croft and Monskwell Park including part of Manse Lane Industrial Estate.”
The owner of a riverside cafe in Knaresborough has spoken of the devastation caused by flooding this weekend.
Justine Connolly, who co-owns Marigolds Cafe on Waterside, was forced to close the cafe on Sunday morning just as Storm Franklin was approaching the district.
Heavy rain then caused flooding across the Harrogate district, forcing some residents to evacuate their homes.
Ms Connolly said:
“We’ve got CCTV that we can log in on our phones, so we saw that it was bad on Sunday morning.”
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She said coming into work this morning to empty the water from the cafe was “like emptying a bath”.
Ms Connolly added:
“We have to sweep it manually out, we haven’t got any pump systems.”
She said the floods was “as bad” as those in 2016. However, she added that there was more warning this time:
“The only difference with this one is that we saw it coming. We’ve had texts [flood alerts] for the past three days.
“Even though we know its coming and we’ve had it before, it’s still a horrible feeling. You don’t know how high it’s going to get, when it is going to go away and how much damage it is going to do.”
Despite the flooding, Ms Connolly said staff have started the clean up today and are preparing to reopen tomorrow.
She said:
Harrogate district community groups encouraged to apply for £2,500 grants“Now we’re just cleaning up, restocking and getting ready for tomorrow.”
Groups and organisations in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply for grants of up to £2,500 to help support local communities.
The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm community benefit fund helps to fund projects which benefit local people, such as renovations to buildings and new equipment for playgroups.
It has also helped fund public Internet and computers at Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall.
The fund is aimed at organisations in Hampsthwaite Felliscliffe, Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Norwood, Darley and Menwith, Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw and Fewston in Nidderdale.
It is available to small local charities and voluntary and community groups in those areas.
Read more:
- Will Harrogate district charities lose funding in council shake-up?
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The fund, which is operated by Two Ridings Community Foundation, has grants that are awarded to “enhance quality of life for local residents” and “contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities”.
RWE Renewables, which set up the fund, said:
“The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm Community Fund is designed to help voluntary organisations, community groups and small charities and other types of not for profit organization that support charitable, educational, community, environmental, energy efficiency or general community amenity projects in the local area.”
Those applying for the grant must be a voluntary organisation, community group, small charity or other type of not for profit organisation and have been in existence for six months.
They must also have a governing document or a constitution. The deadline for applications is May 9, 2022.
More information can be found on the Two Riddings Community Foundation website.
Harrogate distillery wins RHS branded drinks licenceA Harrogate distillery has partnered with the Royal Horticultural Society to create branded spirits including whiskey, gin and rum.
The RHS has handed the licence to Harrogate Tipple to prepare the products for the Chelsea Flower Show in May.
The bottle and labels are still at the design stage but will use imagery that, like the spirits, captures and combines Harrogate Tipple’s artisan ideals with the inspirational aims of the gardening charity.
Steven Green, founder of Harrogate Tipple, said:
“We were thrilled to be asked to develop a series of spirits that reflected the excellence and love of British gardens that is the hallmark of the RHS.
“It has been a delight to work with the UK’s favourite gardening charity and a strong supporter of British craft company produced food and drink.”
Read more:
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The range will then be available at retail from the beginning of June, selling at several physical and online outlets that include spirit retailers, garden centres and independent wine stores.
It will also be sold via the Harrogate Tipple and RHS websites and at RHS Gardens.
Cathy Snow, licensing manager at RHS, said:
Parents object to merger of two Harrogate primary schools“Our intention was partnering with a distillery that combined a true artisan approach with the creativity and excellence that would make RHS gin, whisky and rum stand out.
“Not an easy task, but in Harrogate Tipple we have found the ideal partner for a range of spirits that are both memorable and delicious.”
Parents objecting about the merger of two Harrogate primary schools claim it will be unfair on some pupils after one school was judged inadequate by inspectors.
Woodfield Primary School and Grove Road Community Primary School will become one in September 2022 if the proposals are approved.
The plans are set to be progressed at a North Yorkshire County Council meeting on Tuesday after a consultation with parents, staff and governors ended in January.
Concerns have been raised that the move will cause disruption for pupils and parents, some of which said Woodfield Primary School should remain as it is after it was judged inadequate by Ofsted in January 2020.
One parent said:
“Woodfield School’s problems should not become Grove Road’s problems.
“Inspectors said pupils at Woodfield were being “let down” by poor leadership and that “too many pupils do not achieve what they are capable of.”
Read more:
- Parents vow to fight closure of ‘fantastic’ Woodfield primary school
- County council ‘would give Woodfield school more time to improve if it could’
- Woodfield primary school set to close in September
Any council-run school which is rated inadequate is required to become a sponsored academy.
However, no sponsor could be found for Woodfield, and the county council instead put forward plans for the merger with good-rated Grove Road.
Stuart Carlton, the county council’s corporate director of children and young people’s services, said in a report:
“While it is acknowledged that the proposed closure of Woodfield Community Primary School will cause uncertainty and disruption for pupils, parents and staff, Grove Road School would work closely with parents, as both schools do now, to meet the needs of individual children.
“Several consultees have noted the benefits of the Woodfield site including the large grassed area not available at Grove Road.
“It is proposed that the additional space freed up at the Grove Road site will be developed into specialist provision, intervention areas and library spaces.”
“Our family really hope that this amalgamation never happens”
The proposed merger has been agreed by both governing bodies of the schools, and statutory proposals will be published in March if councillors vote in favour of progressing the plans on Tuesday.
After this, a final decision on the move would then be made by the county council’s executive in April.
Commenting on the proposals, one parent said:
“After the past two years the children have had, I think the uproot out of a school they love and know is not good for mental health and a total disregard for the children and parents of Woodfield.”
Another said:
“Our family really hope that this amalgamation never happens, otherwise our family and many parents I know will choose for their kids to go to St Peter’s School.”
Meanwhile, one parent commented in favour of the merger, saying her disabled child had a much improved experience at Grove Road after leaving Woodfield.
They said:
“Having been a parent of a SEND child at Woodfield nearly three years ago… I saw the decline in leadership and poor care of my child’s needs.
“We left this school because we were tired of fighting and getting nowhere.
“I’ve no doubt that under Grove Road leadership, the Woodfield site will become a thriving and flourished school again.”
If the proposals go ahead, nursery aged children will attend the site at Woodfield, which will be re-named Grove Road Nursery, from September.
Eventually all Key Stage One pupils will be taught at the Woodfield site, with Key Stage Two being taught at the larger Grove Road site.
Harrogate covid vaccination centre set to close in MarchHarrogate’s covid vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground is set to close next month.
The site, along with the vaccination centre at Ripon Races, is run by Yorkshire Health Network, a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district.
The final jabs will be administered at Ripon Races tomorrow. The clinic will be open to people aged 12 and over and walk-ins will be accepted between 8.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-5pm.
The showground site will continue until March 12.
The site first opened in December 2020 to support the first vaccination rollout and administered 117,000 jabs in its first six months of operation.
It reopened in December 2021 as part of the covid booster campaign.
Read more:
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Tim Yarrow, operations manager at Yorkshire Health Network, confirmed that the site would close on March 12. He said:
“After March 12 we will be offering a scaled back service on more of an ad-hoc basis, hopefully still at the showground.”
Vaccinations at the site will continue until March, with walk-in appointments available.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Health Network added:
“Vaccination clinics are due to be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre until at least the middle of March,
“However, with some adults and vulnerable children likely to still require access to the covid vaccine, the Yorkshire Health Network is currently looking at future provision beyond this date, with arrangements to be confirmed soon.
“If patients still require first, second or booster doses, they can book appointments via the NHS Booking Service online or call 119, or visit the NHS website to see local arrangements for walk-in clinic.”
Fresh calls to reinstate Harrogate Wedderburn bus
Fresh calls have been made to reinstate a Harrogate bus service which was scrapped more than three years ago.
The 104 service between Wedderburn Road and Harrogate town centre was removed in November 2018, despite efforts from residents and councillors to save the service.
Locals say the scrapping of the service has left elderly and disabled residents cut adrift and forced to pay for taxis to get into town.
However, with North Yorkshire County Council bidding for a £116 million to help fund bus services, there have been renewed calls to reinstate the service.
Removal was a ‘slap in the face’
Lynne Hallums lives on Stonefall Drive, which the bus used to serve as part of its circular of the Wedderburn Estate.
She has chronic nerve pain, fibromyalgia and has to wear a hearing aid. Lynne used to take the 104 into town around four times a week.
She said the bus used to serve a large elderly community, all of which knew each other. It was also a means of getting to Mowbray Square medical centre and the hospital.
But now she says the removal of the service has left them without regular transport and cut them off as a community.
Lynne said:
“When they said they were going to take it [the bus] away, it was like a slap in the face.”
After the removal of the 104 bus, a voluntary service known as “dial-a-ride” was put on to serve the estate.
Read more:
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However, Lynne says that the voluntary service needed to be booked in advance and did not help those who wanted to go into town regularly.
Meanwhile, elderly and disabled residents are forced to either walk to Wetherby Road or Knaresborough Road to catch a bus.
Lynne bought her house on Stonefall Drive 12 years ago and said the bus stop outside her house was a key selling point.
However, she says she is now considering moving after two years of covid lockdowns and the lack of a regular service to get into town and meet people has had an affect on her mental health.
“I need to get out of this house, my mental health is suffering.
“We do not get to see anyone. We cannot support the local businesses.”
Renewed calls to reinstate
The subsidy for the 104 service was withdrawn in May 2014 when North Yorkshire county councillors agreed that town services should no longer be subsidised.
The decision was made in an effort to save the council £1.1 million and Connexions, which operated the service, subsequently stopped running the bus in 2018.
Craig Temple, director of the company, said the removal of the subsidy was the starting point which led to the service being stopped.
He said:
“I did not want to take it off. The people were lovely and it is not something that we wanted to do.
“We looked at other ways of reintroducing it. I would love to put it back on, the people were great customers and it breaks my heart.”
He added that the loss of subsidy, drop in passenger numbers due to covid and the lack of small buses in its fleet to be able to serve Wedderburn meant it was unlikely that the company would be able to reintroduce the service.
However, residents, local councillors and Andrew Jones, Conservative Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, have called for it to be reinstated.
Ahead of the county council bidding for funding for improved bus services, Mr Jones said he hoped a Wedderburn service would be included in its proposal as the removal of the service had “cut off a whole section of our community from the hospital, the medical centre at Mowbray Square and the town centre”.
Cllr Chris Aldred (left) and Andrew Jones MP.
Cllr Chris Aldred, the Liberal Democrat councillor who represents the Fairfax ward on Harrogate Borough Council, to the Stray Ferret that while the removal of the service may make sense commercially, he was “not convinced” it served residents well.
He added that he had raised the idea of reinstating the service as part of the county council’s bus improvement strategy, which it has bid to government for £116 million of funding for.
Cllr Aldred said:
“Despite this strategy, I cannot see it returning. There does not seem to be anything in that strategy for local services.”
£116m bus strategy
The council’s plan asks for £116 million of government cash over the next eight years to fund support for existing and new services, a simpler ticketing system, better information on journeys and other measures.
The aim is for services to cover the whole of North Yorkshire and has been dubbed an “enormous challenge” by Cllr Don Mackenzie, Conservative executive county councillor for highways.
It is hoped these targets will be also met through so-called enhanced partnerships where councils agree to infrastructure improvements in return for better services from bus companies.
The Stray Ferret asked the county council whether any restating of the 104 service to Wedderburn was included in its plan and, if it wasn’t, what measures does the authority intend to implement to help elderly residents with public transport.
Michael Leah, assistant director for travel, environment and countryside service at the county council, said:
Plan to convert Harrogate town centre building into 11 flats and shops“Our Bus Service Improvement Plan does not include details of individual bus services or journeys yet instead outlines how we aim to expand services and support those which already exist. We continue to provide a discretionary £1.5 million budget to subsidise local bus services which provide fixed route and timetabled bus services that are not discretely commercially viable.
“In partnership with our operators, we aim to increase passenger numbers and therefore, through increasing commercial viability in this way, seek to extend the bus network as well as increase frequency of services.
“Through the plan, and based on funding received, we are committed to delivering more flexible, on-demand services following the successful YorBus pilot in Bedale, Ripon and Masham. YorBus is fully accessible, with low floor access and a ramp access for users of wheelchairs, pushchairs and those with mobility difficulties.
“We have just concluded the public consultation on proposals in our enhanced partnership plan. A report incorporating the feedback will go to our executive in March to consider the enhanced partnership with bus operators, with a view to that partnership coming into effect from April 1, 2022.”
Plans have been lodged to create 11 new apartments on Parliament Terrace in Harrogate town centre.
ATC Properties Ltd has submitted the plans to Harrogate Borough Council to convert Parliament House into one-bedroom apartments and two ground floor commercial units.
The building is currently occupied by a gym and Harrogate Wines, which is in the two-storey unit next to it.
The developer plans to convert the first floor retail space and first and second floor gym to form 11 one-bedroom apartments.
It would also see the existing shop units on Montpellier Walk reconfigured to provide enlarged trading space and new frontages.
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As part of the plan, the flats would come with double bedroom ensuite and open plan kitchen, dining and living room.
The apartments would be aimed at young professionals, post-graduates and key workers, according to the proposal.
The developer said in its plans:
“The proposed apartments have been designed specifically for young professionals and key workers seeking to access the property market and will therefore provide affordable, inclusive and accessible accommodation.”
It added that the reconfiguration of the ground floor commercial units and new accommodation would help “refurbish a prominent building of poor architectural quality”.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.