Harrogate house prices soar in just one year

The average price of a house in the Borough of Harrogate has increased by more than £28,000 in the course of the past year, according to the Land Registry.

This is a 5% rise, which is lower than the national average. The Office of National Statistics reported that house prices in the UK had risen by an average of 10.2% over the year to March 2021.

Demand has also shifted more towards spacious properties, with estate agents reporting an unprecedented shortage of detached family homes.

The trend can be attributed towards housebuyers’ changing priorities over lockdown and more people starting families.

However, certain factors affect the statistics and mean that they may not paint an accurate picture of the whole year.

The stamp duty land tax holiday on properties worth up to £500,000 is set to end on June 30, which will most likely reduce housing demand in later in the year.

Estate agents said that, anecdotally, there has been a post-vaccination rush for some people who now feel more comfortable attending house viewings and going through the moving process.

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Charles Myring of Myrings Estate Agents summed up how the pandemic has changed the housing market in the borough:

“Stock levels in Harrogate were so depressed during the lockdowns, especially on certain properties (bigger family houses with good outdoor space/south-facing gardens/garages etc), which meant there wasn’t always enough quality stock available to buy and to encourage more people into the market.

“As a consequence prices started to edge up every month.”

The Harrogate borough encompasses the city of Ripon and a number of small towns including Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

David Waddington of Linley and Simpson projected the average price rise to be even higher, at somewhere between 1% and 2% each month.

He agreed that the rise in demand for housing in the borough was also mostly related to covid:

“Harrogate became particularly desirable over lockdown as people realised they no longer had to go into the office and live in suburban areas.

“More people are looking to live in semi-rural areas, because of a subliminal need for space as a result of isolation.”

However he urged first-time buyers and those with mortgages not to give up hope, as the latest iteration of the Help to Buy scheme is still helping people with smaller deposits to take the first step on to the housing ladder.

 

 

Leading comic artists to appear at Harrogate convention

Harrogate’s annual comic art convention has announced an all-star line-up of artists and writers.

More than 400 artists and exhibitors are already set to attend the Thought Bubble Comic Art Convention.

Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk and Batman and Sin City artist Frank Miller are among the guests.

Other artists include Joelle Jones (illustrator and writer for Batman and Catwoman), Doug Braithwaite (artist for many Marvel and DC comics including Wolverine, Thor and Batman) and many more.

The convention will take place on November 13 and 14, at Harrogate Convention Centre.

Activities in store include panels, live drawing, workshops and meet and greets. There will also be a kids’ zone with crafts and a quiet area for reading.

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Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite characters, and there will be a competition for the best homemade cosplay outfits.

A wider Thought Bubble comic art festival will also be taking place during the week starting November 8 across Yorkshire. Film screenings, art exhibitions and other events will be open to people across the county.

Tula Lotay founded Thought Bubble in 2007 and it began in the basement of Leeds Town Hall. It is now one of the biggest comic art conventions in the UK.

She drew the first official art for the convention, and it has been policy that the official artwork be drawn by a female artist ever since.

This is in response to a lack of diversity within the industry when she started; she hopes to open it up to other marginalised groups in years to come.

You can find tickets for this year’s convention here.

Ripon dementia charity wins royal award

Ripon based charity Dementia Forward has won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The charity has won the accolade, which is given for outstanding work towards the local community, along with 241 others across the UK.

More than 200 people volunteer with Dementia Forward, including minibus drivers, public speakers and coordinators who run activities for people struggling with the illness, such as gardening and baking sessions.

During the pandemic the charity adapted to offer virtual support including a ‘café in a box’ service delivering activities to people’s doorsteps.

It reported more than 1,000 calls to its dementia helpline every month over lockdown. The helpline covers a range of services including advice for early dementia and deploying specialist support workers.

Jill Quinn, CEO of the charity since it was founded nine years ago, said;

“We have never looked back from that first step in 2012 and have grown the charity from supporting just 200 families in the first year to now supporting over 4,000 families and this award is certainly a red letter day for everyone involved.

“We are blessed to have a team of over 200 volunteers and so many supporters across the county.”

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The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was set up in 2002 as a celebration for the golden jubilee and has given awards to thousands of charities each year.

Representatives from Dementia Forward will go to a ceremony to receive the award crystal and certificate later this year. Next summer they will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace gardens along with the other winners.

The awards ceremony for last year’s winners took place this week and saw Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels receive its service award. It provides a ‘meals on wheels’ service around the area, delivering to those who are unable to cook and checking on their wellbeing.

If you or a loved one has been affected by dementia, you can call the Dementia Forward helpline on 03300 578592.

Brass band to give free live performance on Harrogate Stray tonight

A brass band will give a free live performance tonight on the Stray in Harrogate from 7pm.

Harrogate Band will play hymns and gentle music alongside the In Memoriam artwork that was installed last week on West Park Stray as a memorial to NHS workers who have died due to covid.

In Memoriam, which is the first of a series of art installations organised by Harrogate International Festivals this summer, will be available to see until June 7.

Harrogate International Festivals organised tonight’s live music.

Harrogate Band consists of 25-30 members and has been performing for 51 years.

Band chairman Ed Dennis said;

“The band are delighted to be back performing after 14 months of not seeing each other of being able to make music together.

“We’re so pleased to be working with Harrogate International Festivals once again on this very special project.”

Catch them tonight in front of the memorial on the Stray from 7pm to 7:40pm.

Four flats could be built above James Street shop in Harrogate

A planning application has been made to convert vacant premises above Paw Prints pet shop on James Street in Harrogate to four studio apartments.

The application was made by a firm called SJM Cotech ltd, which appears to be one of a number of companies owned by Simon Jacob Moran, a Leeds property developer and lettings agent.

The property is located at 16 James Street, near the cut-through to the Victoria shopping centre. It fronts both on James Street and on Market Place to the rear. It was previously home to Thomas Cook, the travel agent.

The application would involve altering the rear of the property, on Market Place. A small retail unit would be added, while the current retail unit on James Street would be retained.

The four studio flats, which will range in size from 59 to 76 square metres, will be built on the first and second floors, which are currently vacant.

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The scheme is an amended version of one which was refused planning permission in December last year.

The previous scheme was refused because planners felt it did not contribute to the appearance of the conservation area, and because the flats would have had limited access to fresh air.

The new application has reduced the number of homes from five to four, and changed the design from 1-bedroom to studio flats.

All traditional elements of the James Street frontage would be retained, while the current modern shop sign would be replaced with a more sympathetic one.

The planning officer for Harrogate Borough Council is due to make a decision on the application by July 1.

Station Gateway scheme could increase greenhouse gas emissions

A report by consultants on the proposed £7.9 million Station Gateway project in Harrogate has found it could potentially increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The gateway project aims to improve town centre accessibility, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists, and help to achieve a net-zero carbon goal.

But net carbon emissions could increase because the reduced traffic flow in the area affected by the scheme would force some drivers to take longer alternative routes.

North Yorkshire County Council said this would represent a “worst-case” scenario, and it would refine the scheme to ensure it is environmentally friendly.

The report also highlighted the loss of up to 15 trees. They would be replaced by new trees within the scheme area at a ratio of at least one replacement for each tree lost.

In addition, there would be a net loss of parking spaces in Harrogate town centre. The scheme would, however, maintain or increase the number of disabled parking bays in the centre.

Under all versions of the scheme examined, the bandstand at the north end of Station Square would be removed, while the Jubilee memorial on the south side would remain in place. Other improvements include a proposed water fountain and ornamental planters.

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Environmental impact

The report is a preliminary study prepared by WSP, a consultancy firm.

It aims to provide information to North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, which are developing the Station Gateway scheme, about the potential environmental impacts.

Council planners will use this information to determine whether a formal environmental impact assessment is needed.

The report assesses three different options:

The report forecasts that under the “do maximum” scenario improvements to pedestrian, cycling and public transport infrastructure will encourage a shift away from car use, with a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 1,113 tons over 60 years.

However, at the same time reductions in traffic capacity will force vehicles to take longer alternatives, which is predicted to lead to an increase in carbon emissions of 2,576 tons of CO2 over 60 years.

This suggests that the net impact of the scheme will therefore be an increase in emissions of CO2 of roughly 1,400 tons over 60 years. To put this into context, the average UK citizen produces roughly five tons of CO2 per year.

The report notes that:

“…the transformational change from the scheme has the potential to unlock further behavioural change and growth than modelled, in which case emissions reductions may be larger.”

There is no forecast of the change in carbon emissions under the “do something” or “do minimum” scenarios.

More detailed proposals to come

Karl Battersby, corporate director of business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“At this early stage of development, it is prudent to consider a worst case scenario. It is that modelling that informs the screening request. This worst case shows that at this stage there is potential for a slight adverse carbon emissions impact.

“However, further detailed design will focus on achieving a net-zero position and we will present a more refined carbon assessment when detailed proposals are recommended for implementation.”

Brackenfield School in Harrogate opens new adventure play area

A Harrogate independent school has opened a new outdoor play area for nursery children to encourage open-air learning.

Brackenfield School’s new facility includes a ‘garden centre’, mud kitchen and pebble pit complete with weighing scales and spades.

There is also a reading rainforest corner, where children can take their books outside with their friends and read while sitting on log stools.

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The area was designed to present children with challenges, adventures and opportunities for development, whilst interacting with the natural world around them.

Headmaster Joe Masterson said:

“Outdoor learning is one of the four areas of a powerful mission we use to focus our children’s achievements here at Brackenfield School.

“We strive to ensure that while revelling in technology as a means to excite, ignite and redefine learning, a strong sense of balance is also retained for our pupils towards human connection, nature and the outdoors.”

Decision to let Walkers Passage grow wild divides opinion

Harrogate Borough Council has stopped mowing the grass around Walkers Passage to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve biodiversity.

Walkers Passage is a popular cut through between the Stray and Harcourt Drive.

Geoff Davy, a local resident, told the Stray Ferret the grass was previously mown “about a dozen times a year.”

But this year only narrow strips near the path have been mown. The rest of the small park is being allowed to grow long, a decision that Mr Davy criticised:

“It’s unpleasant to look at and it’s unpleasant to be in. Families and people with small children won’t come here to play.”

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A council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret the decision to stop mowing the grass had been taken for two reasons: to reduce anti-social behaviour, and to increase biodiversity.

Mr Davy said:

“It’s not working, letting that place go derelict. It’s not stopping anti-social behaviour and drug-dealing.”

 

Bilton pupils join Race for Life to help cancer research

Sixty pupils at Woodfield Community Primary School ran sponsored laps of their playground on Friday to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The pupils aged three to 11 joined schools and individuals around the country in the Race for Life, which raises millions of pounds every year for cancer research.

One pupil has raised more than £250 on their own and the school is optimistic it will achieve a total of more than £1,000.

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Different classes took it in turns to complete their laps, in order to comply with covid regulations.

Jo Marwood, head teacher at Woodfield school, said:

“We set a target of £250 for the school to raise and we know we have already raised over double that with donations still coming in.”

“Sadly, most of us know someone who has been touched by cancer and we all have our special reasons for taking part and wanting to help more people survive.”

Sarah Pickersgill, head of events marketing at Cancer Research UK, said:

“The money raised by Woodfield school will help our scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping to save more lives. So, we thank all the pupils, parents and teachers for their vital support.”

 

Both Harrogate Subway locations close down

Subway’s two Harrogate locations have failed to reopen after the end of lockdown, and the company has confirmed that they are closing down permanently.

The interior of the town centre location, on Beulah Street, has been gutted. Meanwhile the Leeds Road shop has been shut for some time.

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The closure means that Subway now has only one location in Knaresborough, down from four in 2018.

However, the a spokesperson for the chain indicated there may be plans for opening new locations:

“We will be looking to open a new store in Harrogate in the near future, and look forward to providing a further update for the local community when able.”