A founding partner of a Harrogate estate agents has died.

Charles Smailes co-founded Feather Smailes Scales, which is based on Raglan Street in the town.

Mr Smailes had more than 30 years experience in the local property sector.

He set-up FSS with Jim Feather and Peter Scales in 1994.

He was appointed president of the National Association of Estate Agents in 2005 and was also the first chairman of the board of the National Federation of Property Professionals.

In a post last night on social media, FSS said Mr Smailes died on October 9. It added:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our founding partner, Charles Smailes.

“Charles’ legacy will continue as we, as a firm carry forwards the values and principles that he held so dear.”

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A plan has been approved to build nine new flats on the site of a former council office in Harrogate.

The site at 18 Victoria Avenue was previously home to Victoria Park House, which was demolished in December 2021.

Planning permission was granted in late 2018 for an office building to be built by new owner Hornbeam Park Developments. The plans proposed using the original facade, and the stonework was retained to do so.

However, plans have been submitted by Long Marston-based Echo Green Developments, through agent Savills, to create nine residential apartments on the site.

The developer argued that attempts to market the building for office use had failed over a number of years.

Plans for apartments on the site of the old Victoria Park House.

Now, North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for the flats to be built.

In documents submitted to the authority, the developer said the plan will help to meet the need for accommodation in the area.

It said:

“The proposal will be a high quality apartment building in keeping with the Victorian villa’s of the area which will revitalise the site and provides an enhancement to the public streetscape.

“The proposal will provide much needed residential accommodation to the area.”

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A Harrogate funeral directors has appealed for pictures of army veterans to help commemorate Remembrance Day.

Neil and Sonya Milsted Funeral Directors, which is based on Hookstone Chase, plans to put up a window display featuring old photographs of servicemen this year.

Ms Milsted told the Stray Ferret that she had appealed to the community to submit pictures of their loved ones who served in the armed forces to be featured.

The funeral directors puts on a remembrance display every year. However, this year Ms Milsted said she wanted to try something different.

She said:

“I am looking for photos of people who have served in any of the forces or are still serving to display on an easel in our window for Remembrance Day. 

“Every year we make an effort to remember those who we have lost and this year I would like local people to help by sending us photos.”

The pictures can be submitted via email on info@nandsmilsted.co.uk or scanned and brought into the funeral directors.

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Police have confirmed that a missing boy from Harrogate has been found safe and well.

The force issued an appeal for a 13-year-boy over the weekend.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the boy has since been found.

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North Yorkshire Council is set to bid for government funding to progress five social housing schemes in the Harrogate district.

The authority is set to apply for a grant from Homes England to help fund the projects, which include new build houses and conversion of a former Robert Street homeless hostel.

In a report due before senior councillors on Tuesday, council officers said the move would help to meet “huge demand” for social rented housing in Harrogate.

Currently, the council has 2,196 households on its housing waiting list in Harrogate alone.

Vicky Young, the council’s housing policy and strategy officer, said in her report:

“The tenure of the new build units will be social rent. 

“There is huge demand for social rented accommodation in the Harrogate locality, with 2,196 households currently registered on the Harrogate waiting list.”

Among the projects in the councils bid include new build homes on Poplar Grove and Gascoigne Crescent in Harrogate, Springfield Drive in Boroughbridge and Kingsway in Huby.

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Each of the homes are estimated to cost £375,000 to construct.

Meanwhile, the council also estimates that a plan to convert Cavendish House on Harrogate’s Robert Street into six flats would cost £400,000.

The former homeless hostel will be converted into a shared ownership property.

Councillors approved the conversion of the hostel in September. At the time, the council said in a report that the property would help to deliver “much needed affordable housing”.

It said:

“The building has been empty since November 2021. As such, it has a negative impact on residential amenity and increasingly risks attracting anti-social behaviour.

“The development proposals will deliver much needed affordable accommodation in a redundant building and a highly sustainable location, complying full with national and local planning policy guidance.”

The bid to Homes England would help towards 30% of the total cost of the five schemes.

According to the report, the projects would cost £1.9 million to build.

Senior councillors will discuss the bid at a council executive meeting on October 17.

Two North Yorkshire Council housing companies are estimating to report a profit by the end of this financial year.

Brierley Homes and Bracewell Homes are expected to post improved performance after completing further sales, according to a council financial report.

Both companies were taken over by North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.

Bracewell, which is a former Harrogate Borough Council firm, is forecasting a profit return of £1.52 million by the end of 2023/24.

A report said the company had seen sales of shared ownership properties and the “receipt of rental income on the proportion retained within the company”.

However, it added that Bracewell was still awaiting the completion of purchasing a further two sites.

It said:

“The main challenge for the Company relates to receiving accurate information from developers.

“Bracewell is due to complete on house purchases at two sites this financial year however neither developer has managed to achieve their initial forecast completion dates.”

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Meanwhile, Brierley Homes, which was set up by the former North Yorkshire County Council, is forecasting a profit of £959,000 by the end of the year.

The figure is based on the company completing sales at sites in Marton cum Grafton, Pateley Bridge and Great Ouseburn.

Meanwhile, the firm is expected to start work on another housing site in Kirby Malzeard this year.

It comes as the council reported a “positive outlook” for the company in March amid an increase in sales.

A new care home is set to open in Harrogate in January 2024.

Fairfax Manor, which will be based on Wetherby Road opposite Harrogate Town’s football stadium, will be operated by Staffordshire-based Lovett Care Ltd.

The 90-bed care home was built on the site of the former Tate House after being given planning permission back in April 2021.

The company said the home would be a “welcome addition” to Harrogate amid increasing demand for elderly care.

Gillian Allat, general manager at Fairfax Manor, said:

“I am thrilled to be joining a growing organisation. Fairfax Manor will be somewhere that our residents will be proud to call home.

“I am passionate about providing exceptional person centred care and looking forward to growing a team who share my values. If anyone is interested in living or working with us then please get in touch.”

Visual inside Fairfax Manor.

The new facility is set to offer ensuite rooms, 24-hour care and landscaped gardens.

It will also feature an orangery, coffee lounge, bar, cinema, beauty salon and private dining room for special family get togethers.

The move comes as Lovett Care Ltd agreed to acquire the home from Harrogate-based Angela Swifts Developments.

The firm also completed acquisitions for Eden Manor Care in Carlisle and another facility in St Helens.

Fairfax Manor will become the tenth home to be operated by the company.

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Police enquiries are ongoing into an attempted arson at a petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

The incident happened between 1.45am and 2.45am on Sunday, May 14, at the Dales Market Corner petrol station in the town.

Officers at North Yorkshire Police said two men walked onto the forecourt, placed a backpack in the area and set it alight. The backpack then self-extinguished.

The force has confirmed that enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

It comes as two men were arrested in connection with the attempted arson following the incident.

Dales Market Corner petrol station in Pateley Bridge.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on May 14 on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. He was interviewed and later released on conditional bail.

A second man, 45, was arrested on June 5 in connection with the incident. He was bailed while enquiries continue.

Meanwhile, police have reiterated an appeal to the public to get in touch if they have any information or can identify the man in CCTV images issued by the force.

A police statement added:

“Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation is asked to email Jill.Cowling@northyorkshire.police.uk or you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Jill Cowling.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote reference number 12230086186 when passing on information.”

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A developer has appealed a council decision to refuse plans for 23 homes in Bishop Monkton.

Kebbell Development Ltd tabled a plan to build the houses on Knaresborough Road in the village.

At a meeting of the Skipon and Ripon area constituency planning committee in August, councillors rejected the plan amid concern it would increase the amount of raw sewage released on streets.

The decision went against North Yorkshire Council officers’ recommendations to approve the scheme.

One councillor said having more properties in the village could exacerbate the “abomination” of raw sewage being released into the streets during heavy rainfall.

The committee had also called for Yorkshire Water to provide more detail on how the scheme would impact on foul water drainage in the village.

No representative from the company appeared at the meeting.

But the company said “most, if not all” of the “sewage escapes” in the village were caused by residents putting excessive toilet paper, fat, oil and grease down toilets and sinks which caused pipes to block.

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The developer has now taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes.

In a statement of case submitted to the inspector, Kebbell Development Ltd argued that there was no planning reason for the scheme to be refused.

It said:

“It is clear that the appeal proposals fully comply with the requirements of relevant policies contained within the development plan and there are no material considerations that indicate planning permission should not be granted.”

The developer added:

“The council have acted unreasonably in refusing planning permission.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

A road in Knaresborough is set to be closed for resurfacing next week.

North Yorkshire Council will carry out work on B6163 Briggate from Monday (October 16).

According to the council’s roadworks map, the road will be closed between 7.30am until 5.30pm everyday until November 1.

Advanced warning signs of the closure are also in place on the road.

The move comes as the road was recently hit by disruption after a wall collapsed.

The wall, which was painted by Knaresborough artist Joseph Baker Fountain last century, crashed on to the road on Thursday, September 14.

Two-way traffic lights were put in place as repairs were carried out.

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