Flaxby developer to push ahead with reduced eco-home plan

A developer campaigning for more self-build housing sites in the Harrogate district has vowed to re-submit an application to build low-carbon eco-homes at Flaxby. 

Ben Holmes first applied in 2020 for planning permission to build nine homes around the edge of the site on the southern approach to the village, all with solar panels and air-source heat-pumps, and communal facilities in the middle. 

But the government’s Planning Inspectorate turned down the application, saying the plans’ nuclear format did not conform to the village’s traditional linear pattern. It also cited a lack of housing density; it wanted more homes to the be built on the site. 

Mr Holmes, who is originally from Birstwith, then applied to build 20 homes, but withdrew the application after conversations with residents who felt the density was too high. He also applied to create a nature reserve in an adjoining paddock, to be gifted to the village, but this too was refused by planners. 

His latest application was for five homes following the line of the road, so as to fit in with the village’s linear format, but that too has been rejected by a planning inspector, who had concerns about the effects on the landscape and the future residents’ over-reliance on cars to get to amenities. 

Mr Holmes now plans to submit an application for just two large, self-build homes, and to gift the remainder of the site to the village as a nature reserve or playground, or for any use the villagers feel they need. He said:

“It’s just incredible that the council should put so many barriers in the way of high-quality, low-carbon homes like these. 

“We should be encouraging people to design and build their own homes – that’s what they do on the continent. Instead, we rely on the Big 5 housebuilders to provide our houses, as cheaply as possible.” 

All the homes Mr Holmes has applied to build would conform to Passivhaus standards. 

Pioneered in Germany, Passivhaus homes are built to be extremely energy-efficient, with heating and lighting costs typically under £100 a year. Build costs tend to be 10-20% more than for conventional homes, but that initial outlay is recouped within a few years of construction through savings on energy bills. 

A photo of the site where developer Ben Holmes wants to build eco-homes at Flaxby.

The latest application will be for just two large homes at the Flaxby site.

Despite Mr Holmes’ repeated efforts to gain permission to develop the site, none of his applications were assessed by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee because they were rejected by planning staff. He said: 

“What we really need is to get this scheme in front of the planning committee. They’re elected and can better represent people’s views. 

“I’ve been badgering the council’s planning department for years to get it before the planning committee, but I think they’re afraid it will go through and open the floodgates to loads more applications on the edges of settlements. That’s not part of their Local Plan, and they wouldn’t have control over these developments. 

“Hopefully, the new [North Yorkshire] council will be more amenable and more supportive of this kind of development. It’s very much needed.” 

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Ripon Sailing Club to hold free taster sessions tomorrow

Families looking for something new to do over the bank holiday weekend are being invited to try out sailing, free of charge. 

Ripon Sailing Club is giving novices their first taste of life on the water – and providing old hands with an opportunity to get back on board – as part of the Royal Yachting Association’s Discover Sailing programme.

All newcomers will go afloat with an experienced helm who will be able to answer any questions.

Richard Pryke, Ripon Sailing Club commodore, said:

“We’re inviting the local community to come down to have a go at sailing, see what the club has to offer and get involved. Who knows, you might just love it!” 

The open day, from 10am to 4pm tomorrow (Saturday, April 29), will be held at Ripon Sailing Club’s base near Farnham, Knaresborough. The event will include trial sails, radio-controlled yacht demonstrations, Royal Yachting Association training courses for club members, York University team racing, and lots of information about membership benefits.

Would-be sailors are asked to bring soft-soled shoes, a change of clothes including a fleece and showerproof jacket, and a towel. 

Photo of a man and boy sailing in a dinghy.

The Discover Sailing open day is meant both for newcomers and for people coming back to sailing after a break.

Discover Sailing is a Royal Yachting Association initiative first held in March 2011. The 2023 event will see clubs and centres across the UK holding open days and inviting people to come and have a go at sailing and windsurfing.

For full details about Ripon Sailing Club, visit www.ripon-sc.org.uk or follow the club on Facebook.

For more information and to book a visit, contact Helen Voisey at membership@ripon-sc.org.uk.

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English Civil War soldiers’ mass graves ‘revealed’ by drone technology

The final resting place of thousands of Royalist soldiers killed in the English Civil War may have been revealed using new drone technology. 

Amateur archaeologist Tony Hunt found the mass graves at White Sike Close, near the A59 between Harrogate and York, using drones equipped with infrared and thermal imaging cameras.

He said:  

“The great thing about this site is that we know exactly where the bodies are supposed to be – the pits are very well attested by historical accounts – and we know that there has been no development here, only agriculture, since the battle. When we do a wider survey, the surrounding area looks very homogeneous – these are the only anomalies. 

“So we have the right size, the right location, written records and even different growth patterns in vegetation growing here. I’m as sure as I can be that these are the burial pits for the Royalist dead.” 

The soldiers were killed making a last stand at the Battle of Marston Moor, which was fought on July 2, 1644. The battle was the largest of the English Civil War, and the Parliamentarians’ victory effectively ended Royalist influence in the North of England. King Charles I was beheaded less than five years later. 

Satellite map with battle lines overlaid showing the disposition of forces at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Satellite map with battle lines overlaid showing the disposition of forces at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Estimates of casualties vary, but it is believed that at least 300 Parliamentarians and 4,000 Royalists were killed at the battle. 

The battlefield site, which is registered on the National Heritage List for England, lies within the boundaries of the Harrogate district. 

Chris Rock, Yorkshire regional chair of the Battlefields Trust, said:

“The Battlefields Trust is always interested in any possible evidence of the conflict sites in the country. Despite being a registered battle site with Historic England, this does not automatically give it protected status, and is thus open to illegal activity.

“Only by working closely with those who used the land or are landowners can we hope to protect and preserve any possible battle proof. We look forward to any future excavation work if allowed and will always work in partnership with those who have the same aims of preserving our history.”

But Mr Hunt says he doesn’t want to investigate further. He said: 

“Just knowing they’re there is enough for me. I can’t see any benefit in opening up the poor lads’ graves.” 

Detail of a 19th-century map, showing the location of White Sike Close, where Royalist soldiers are believed to have made a last stand - and been buried.

Detail of a 19th-century map, showing the location of White Sike Close, where Royalist soldiers are believed to have made a last stand – and been buried.

The English Civil Wars were fought between 1642 and 1652 and pitted King Charles I and his Royalists against the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, who generally believed in the primacy of Parliament over the monarch. It resulted in the execution of the king and the establishment of the Commonwealth of England.

Mr Hunt has a degree in archaeological sciences from Bradford University and is currently managing director of DJ Assembly, a York-based micro-electronics company. He also runs Yorkshire Aerial Archaeological Mapping, whose thermal and infrared imaging technology revealed the burial pits.  

He has previously used his drone technology to locate many other sites of historic interest. Last summer, he found a missing section of Roman road, and early this year he discovered a suspected prehistoric henge under the village of Kirk Hammerton. 

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Harrogate’s property market to weather global challenges, says development professional

This story is sponsored by Linley & Simpson.

Harrogate’s property market will remain healthy despite the unprecedented challenges faced by the wider economy, according to a Harrogate property professional with over 20 years’ experience. 

Jonathan Foggitt, who is Senior Land & Development Manager at Yorkshire estate agent Linley & Simpson, said prices across the district would stay buoyant despite a complex web of factors.  

He told The Stray Ferret: 

“One of the biggest problems in Harrogate is the lack of land supply. The council needs to build a certain number houses per year to meet their obligations, but the development opportunities are simply not coming forward fast enough.” 

He said this was due to various factors, some of which were influenced by global forces:

“These are interesting times – it’s quite unusual to have so many factors affecting the market all at once. The cost-of-living crisis has affected affordability and the war in Ukraine has impacted costs. Political turmoil at home generally affects investment into the UK negatively too.  

“Brexit and Covid have also had a huge effect. Brexit caused delays at the ports, which has affected lead times, and Covid saw factories shut down – many are still not working at full capacity – so there are shortages in the supply chain. 

“Physical costs of materials have soared over recent times – timber’s gone up by 40% – and lead times for steel orders have tripled, although we have seen a cost stabilisation more recently. 

“It’s a simple example of supply and demand, and as consequence, not enough houses are being built, so prices remain robust.” 

Jonathan has spent over two decades in the property industry, mainly self-employed, and took over Linley & Simpson’s Land & Development department in October. His team can help developers through both the initial stages of a project and the post-construction phase, including marketing. 

He added that opportunities for developers could open up too, as those lacking liquidity exit the market. The transfer of housing and planning powers from the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council to the new North Yorkshire Council (NYC) may present opportunities.

He said: 

“I think there’ll be a review of the remaining allocations by NYC, and there could even be another call for new development sites.

“Any such process will have to happen for all seven of the former local council areas, so it will be fascinating to watch. It could create all sorts of opportunities for developers – and ultimately for housebuyers too.”

Linley & Simpson was founded in Leeds in 1997 and has 19 branches in towns and cities across Yorkshire, including Harrogate, Ripon, Wetherby and York.

Find out more:

Jonathan and his team understand the challenges involved at every stage of the development process. To find out how they can help you with your next project, call them on 01423 540054. 

 

Ghost hunts to investigate Harrogate’s haunted sites

A freelance entertainer is hoping to explore some of Harrogate’s most haunted places when he launches a series of ghost hunts this month. 

Paul Forster is a mind-reader, magician and tour guide and has already led almost 2,000 paying visitors around Harrogate’s haunted hotspots – or rather, cold spots – over the past 18 months during his twice-monthly ghost walks. 

He is now offering tickets for a ghost hunt at the historic Crown Hotel, and has been given exclusive access to some of its darker recesses. 

He said: 

“People always want to know what’s waiting for them behind the doors they’re not allowed to open, and now we can take them there.

“The Crown Hotel has some really interesting hauntings. Second World War RAF airmen have been sighted there, disembodied voices have been heard, and there has even been poltergeist activity in the cellar.

“This will be the first time the hotel has been investigated, so it will be fascinating to see what we turn up.”

The ghost hunt will take place between 9pm and 1am, with 30 guests splitting into small groups in the hopes of capturing evidence of unusual activity.

Paul will be working in conjunction with paranormal investigation firm Angelic Forces, using techniques including table-tipping and glass divining, as well as specialist equipment such as digital thermometers and thermal imaging cameras to measure temperature, humidity, and electromagnetic fields. 

There are just six tickets left for the event on April 29, but Paul has already scheduled further events at the Crown Hotel on June 10 and at the Turkish Baths on June 16. 

He said:  

“I’d always sat on the fence when it came to paranormal activity, but then I went to the Turkish Baths to speak to members of staff who had seen some apparitions, and I saw my first ever ghost when I was there. I even heard her laugh. It changed my entire belief system.” 

Paul – whose book, Haunted Harrogate, was published last year – now believes some apparitions may simply be an imprint, or “recording”, of one moment in someone’s life, rendered visible because energy has been left behind in objects, such as stone – a phenomenon described by the “Stone Tape Theory”. 

He hopes the events will attract both die-hard ghost-hunters and curious sceptics, but says whatever happens, the events will be unlike anything else. He said: 

“It’ll be interesting, different and exciting, and that’s just what Harrogate is. There are a lot of ‘stone tape’ ghosts in Harrogate. Because it’s a spa town, I think it may be something to do with the water flowing beneath us – it acts like a plug socket, giving them energy.  

“We can’t guarantee we’ll see some ghosts on the night, but, having spent time in these places myself, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we did.” 

Tickets for the Harrogate Ghost Hunt cost £49 and be booked online at www.harrogateghostwalk.com. 

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Unique ‘Brighouse Bugatti’ to feature at Newby Hall sports car show

Organisers are expecting a record turn-out next month for Sports Cars in the Park, the annual celebration of classic vehicles and super cars held each spring at Newby Hall. 

A firm favourite in car enthusiasts’ calendar, the event was started by Yorkshire businessman Chris Crossley because he was fed up with all the good car events being held in the South. 

The show, on Sunday, May 7, brings together exhibits from car clubs and individual car enthusiasts across the region, attracting more than 1,000 sports cars and 5,000 visitors. Cars attending must be a roadster, a sporty car, modified or unusual or fun in some way. 

This year’s event is expected to bring together a wide range of prestigious car marques. Highlights will include the “Brighouse Bugatti”, the sole survivor of 10 cars made between 1922 and 1928 by Brighouse engineer Frederick William Bond.  

There will also be a rare LaFerrari, a car so refined it was priced at $1.5 million when it was first released 10 years ago.  

Visitors will also be able to spot a Ferrari Enzo and a Porsche Carrera GT, as well as a wide variety of sports cars including examples from Aston Martin, Lamborghini, McLaren, Lotus and TVR. The displays range from new BMW and Audi cars to classics like the Ford Cosworth and Minis. There will also be several hybrid and electric cars, and a range of trade stands. 

Stuart Gill, commercial director at Newby Hall, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Sports Cars in the Park again this May. It’s great to see so many enthusiasts sharing their passion for their prized cars with visitors in our perfect setting.” 

Newby Hall, which is located across the River Ure from Bishop Monkton, is one of the UK’s finest Adam houses and its 25 acres of gardens include an “enchanted” woodland walk and a miniature railway. Entry to Newby’s award-winning gardens, adventure playground, dolls house and teddy bear exhibitions is included in the admission price.     

Sports Cars in the Park will be held on Sunday, May 7 from 10am to 4pm. Ticket cost £18 for adults and £15 for children (aged 4-15). A family ticket costs £56, but under-4s are admitted free of charge. 

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Harrogate restaurant relaunches following £30,000 refurbishment

An Italian restaurant in Harrogate town centre is set to relaunch next Thursday (April 27) following a £30,000 overhaul. 

The refurbishment of Piccolino on Parliament Street sees the return of the ground-floor bar that was popular when the site was run as Restaurant Bar & Grill.

When it became a Gino D’Acampo restaurant in 2017, the ground floor was turned into a deli, but owner Individual Restaurants rebranded it to Piccolino in January 2022 and is now bringing back the bar area in response to local demand. 

Andrew Garton, CEO of Individual Restaurants, said: 

“I spent 10 years of my life living in Harrogate and enjoyed every minute of it. On taking my position as CEO at Individual Restaurants, bringing the bar back to Harrogate was the top request from my friends and contacts – and this is exactly what we have done. We look forward to bringing back the buzz to the local community as well as ensuring that we continue to serve the finest Italian food and drink. 

“I encourage everyone in Harrogate to come and relive the good times and experience the best venue in Harrogate.” 

The re-launched bar will serve cocktails and host sets by local DJs. The roof-top terrace and private dining room will also be reopening. 

Seated customers laughing and chatting in a busy Piccolino Italian restaurant in Harrogate.

The Harrogate restaurant is one of 18 Piccolino sites around England, most of which are in the North.

The venue will be led by a new general manager, Salvatore Cataldi, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, including stints at San Carlo and Grantley Hall. He said: 

“I am super excited to be joining the Piccolino Harrogate team as general manager. I can already see how this will soon become the ‘go to’ place for dinner and late evening drinks in our new bar. 

“I also have a strong business network within the local community, and I think our private dining room and rooftop terrace space will be a hit with local businesses looking to surprise and delight their teams and clients! I look forward to welcoming our guests to the restaurant over the coming months.” 

The Manchester-based Individual Restaurants group has 18 Piccolino sites across the UK, including Harrogate, Ilkley, Collingham, Sheffield, Bramhall, Birmingham, Chester, Didsbury, Hale, Knutsford, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Stockton Heath, Bristol, London and Virginia Water. It also has restaurants operating under other brands in Leeds, Hull and Marlow. 

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Village pub to be converted to homes as permission is finally granted

Planning permission to convert a Bishop Monkton pub to residential use has finally been granted on appeal – just days after one of the applicants died. 

Landlords Trevor and Carol Pawson had spent three years trying to get permission to create five new homes from the Lamb & Flag Inn, but Mr Pawson died on March 25. The couple’s appeal was approved on April 5, the day before his funeral. 

Mrs Pawson told The Stray Ferret she intended to press ahead with development work, but did not yet know when it might start. She said:  

“We won, so I’ll carry on, but for the time being I’m just taking one day at a time.”

Mr and Ms Pawson bought the Lamb & Flag Inn 30 years ago and ran it as a village pub until declining trade and ill-health forced them to close it permanently at the start of the covid pandemic in 2020. 

In the autumn of that year, they applied for planning permission to create five new dwellings – two from the conversion of the pub, one from the conversion of some holiday lets in an outbuilding, and two to be built in the pub car-park.  

They withdrew that application a few months later, but reapplied in April 2021, only to be turned down. Harrogate Borough Council planning officers refused the application on the grounds that “insufficient marketing” had been done to demonstrate that the pub could not be used for community use. 

The Pawsons appealed, providing evidence of marketing, leading planning officer Paul Cooper to conclude that there was “no compelling evidence that operation of the facility would be financially viable”. 

In his decision, Mr Cooper added: 

“The proposed dwellings would have a neutral effect on the conservation area and not […] be harmful by their design or impact on the landscape or settlement as a whole.” 

The Lamb & Flag dates back at least to the 1830s and was at one time one of seven pubs in the Bishop Monkton parish. Only one now remains – the Masons Arms, which still opens five days a week. 

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Back-bedroom start-up to smash £1 million barrier 12 years after launch

The story is sponsored by Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors.

A firm of chartered surveyors founded in a back bedroom 12 years ago is on track to break through the £1 million turnover barrier this year, its founder has revealed. 

Kempston-Parkes has grown its client base and turnover every year for over a decade, and is now the foremost Harrogate firm in its sector, with nine professionally qualified members of staff and six administrators. 

The landmark turnover figure comes as a welcome milestone for Andrew Kempston-Parkes, who founded the firm in 2011. 

Having started his working life at the Valuation Office Agency – part of the Inland Revenue – he received his professional qualifications from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 1997. He started carrying out residential valuations and survey work in 1999, and worked for over a decade at a national firm of chartered surveyors in Leeds and then Harrogate before branching out on his own. He said: 

“Working for such a large company, I’d progressively moved further away from the client; in fact, I was encouraged to have as little communication with the client as possible, which I felt flew in the face of professionalism. 

“Setting up on my own was the right decision. There is a healthy market for honest, personal service with clear communication and a human touch.” 

Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors focuses on pre-purchase surveys (RICS Level 2 HomeBuyerReport and RICS Level 3 Survey), along with valuations for all purposes: purchase, inheritance tax, capital gains tax and matrimonial assessments, as well as Party Wall Act boundary disputes and Land Registry plans. 

Mr Kempston-Parkes said a lot had changed since he first entered the profession, including the approach to customer service: 

“There’s a lot more diversity in the workforce now, which is great, and the technology’s developed beyond all recognition – we have iPads, laser measurers, drones, thermal imaging equipment, telescopic poles – lots of technology to help us see things that are out of reach.  

“And as an industry, we’re concentrating more and more on what clients need. We’re a lot more responsive. If you have a problem with land or property in the Harrogate area, we’re the people to come to.” 

Find out more: 

Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors provide surveys and valuations for all purposes, including purchase, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, matrimonial assessments, boundary disputes and Land Registry plans.  
For more information, go to www.kempston-parkes.co.uk, or for a confidential conversation about your requirements, call 01423 789111. 

 

New £70,000 tennis courts open in Dacre with free taster sessions

State-of-the-art sports facilities have arrived in Nidderdale, with the laying of three brand-new artificial grass tennis courts at Dacre Tennis Club. 

The new ‘Savanna’ playing surfaces have replaced old and worn tarmac courts at a cost of £70,000.

The sum was paid for by a combination of cash, grants and loans from various sources.

Dacre & Hartwith Playing Fields Association, which owns the Max Pullan Recreation Ground where the club is based, contributed over £8,000, the North Yorkshire County Council’s Locality Budget provided a grant of £1,000, and a sizeable donation was also made by a club member.

Other members provided 10-year loans to the club, which itself also contributed reserves built up for the purpose and sold some 10-year memberships to make up the shortfall. 

Club committee member Charles Andrew said: 

“It’s a big investment, but the club is a real hub for tennis in the middle and upper dale and an important facility for all the people and villages there. 

“It’s a lovely surface to play on and some club members went and tested it out and were really impressed.” 

A ground-level view of members playing on the new artificial grass courts at Dacre Tennis Club in Nidderdale.

Dacre Tennis Club is volunteer-run and holds frequent social tennis sessions, runs competitions, and competes in local leagues.  

To introduce players to the new courts, volunteers will be opening up the club up for some free, informal Come-and-Play tennis sessions, starting from this weekend.  

Club secretary Jane Robinson said: 

“It’s a really exciting project and we’re hoping to attract lots of new members.” 

The sessions will be held at the following times: 

The club suggests people bring their trainers or tennis shoes and a racket if they have one; if they don’t, they may borrow one from the club. 

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