Consultation launched for 480 homes on Harrogate’s Otley Road

Homes England has begun a public consultation on plans to build 480 homes at Bluecoat Wood, opposite Cardale Park and Harrogate police station.

The government housing agency bought the site this year after previous plans to develop it stalled. It plans to call the development Bluecoat Park.

The site covers 28 hectares of largely green fields and homes would wrap around Horticap.

The scheme would include a new pitch for Pannal Ash Cricket Club, a sports hub and a children’s play area. Homes England said 40% of the homes would be “affordable”.

A new community woodland would also be planted.

The consultation, which will end on January 10, will inform the submission of a full planning application to Harrogate Borough Council. A website has been created for people to submit their thoughts on the scheme.

Harrogate Borough Council‘s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, the council’s plan for development in the district until 2035, says 450 homes can be built on the site.

Traffic concerns

Separate plans for 780 homes and a new primary school have been proposed by Taylor Wimpey and Redrow at nearby Bluecoat Wood on Otley Road.

Local residents group Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association has raised concerns about congestion on Otley Road as well as extra traffic through nearby villages such as Beckwithshaw, North Rigton and Burn Bridge.

Homes England said its Bluecoat Park development would help inform the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, a document that will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with wider plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.

The plan was expected last year but has been delayed until February 2022.

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The site’s history

Housing has been mooted at Bluecoat Wood for many years.

In February 2016, HBC granted planning permission to a partnership of developers called HTH Harrogate LLP to build 450 homes.

It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.

However, Homes England bought the site in February after the developer pulled out.

In the summer, Homes England submitted an environmental impact assessment for 530 homes on the site. The number has now been reduced.

97 more covid infections in Harrogate district as rate falls to 430

The Harrogate district has reported a further 97 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

The district’s covid rate now stands at 430 infections per 100,000 people. It was 450 yesterday.

Across the county, the average stands at 390 and the England rate is 503.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

A total of 200 patients have died with covid at the hospital since the start of the pandemic.

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Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground reopened this week as a vaccination site.

Those eligible can book appointments on the NHS booking site here.

Anyone over 18 who had their second covid jab over three months ago can also walk-in for a jab. The walk-ins are available until Sunday when they will be reviewed again.

The showground site has also said it is closed for walk-ins between 1215pm and 115pm each day when staff change shifts.

 

Investigation into ‘sea of bubbles’ in Harrogate’s Hookstone Beck

Yorkshire Water says it is investigating an unusual incident where bubbles filled a section of Hookstone Beck today.

Two Stray Ferret readers contacted us with photos of the beck this morning when what appeared to be a sea of washing-up liquid bubbles appeared on the surface.

Andrew Mann said he was out for a walk near the Yorkshire Event Centre when he noticed “something clearly had gone wrong”.

He said bubbles had risen 10-feet-high and raised concerns about any fish that might be swimming in the beck, which feeds into Crimple Beck.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said the incident was not related to sewage pollution. He suspected somebody had poured detergent down a drain that is intended for rainwater and runs off into the beck.

An investigation is underway to find the source of the problem and whether the substance is harmful to wildlife. Yorkshire Water will then share its findings with the Environment Agency.

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Birstwith school appoints new headmaster

Nathan Sadler has been appointed the next headmaster of independent prep school Belmont Grosvenor.

Father-of-three Mr Sadler will take up the role in September next year. He is moving from GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis in Dubai, which he helped open more than a decade ago.

Set in 20-acres of grounds in Birstwith, the school and nursery welcomes boys and girls from three months to 11 years old.

Mr Sadler said he was looking forward to taking the Harrogate prep school forward “to its next chapter”.

He said:

“It is my absolute privilege to be joining Belmont Grosvenor School as headmaster starting next academic year and I am excited by the opportunity to collectively work with staff, pupils, parents and the governors to celebrate and build on the school’s successes and identity and continue to provide the children with strong foundations to thrive in their ever-changing world.

“I’m very impressed with the school grounds and emphasis placed on outdoor learning opportunities and look forward to embracing the whole school community and collectively creating life-long memories for the children.”

Gordon Milne, chair of the governors, said Mr Sadler brought a wealth of experience, including seven years in a senior leadership role in Dubai. He added:

“Nathan displayed a real passion for learning and primary education.”

Mr Sadler will visit the school in March to meet pupils, parents and staff, before taking up his position at the start of the next academic year.

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Otley Road cycle route works set to finish next week

Building work for the first phase of the Otley Road cycle route is set to finish on Thursday December 16.

North Yorkshire County Council said works would have been completed earlier but contractors have been delayed due to the recent spells of stormy weather.

Works have continued throughout November and December to build the new cycle route, which is part of a package of sustainable transport measures in the west of Harrogate.

For its first phase, a section is being created between Harlow Moor Road and Cold Bath Road.

NYCC’s highways area manager Melisa Burnham said:

“Adverse weather caused by storms Arwen and Barra has extended the completion date for the first phase of the Otley Road cycleway. We are aiming to complete the bulk of the work by 16 December.

“However, some remedial work will remain to be completed in the New Year.”

The second phase from Arthur’s Avenue to Beech Grove will be built at a later date.

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Whilst many people are looking forward to new cycling infrastructure on Otley Road, others have complained about the disruption it’s caused so far with work continuing late into the night.

Rene Dziabas, chair of the Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, said the group has gained several new members from local residents who have been annoyed by the building works.

In late November, a resident told the Stray Ferret that he was “upset and angry” a mature tree was felled to make way for the route.

Harrogate planning committee ‘shambles and embarrassing’, says residents group

The chair of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association has described yesterday’s planning committee meeting, at which councillors approved controversial plans to build 200 homes at the former police training centre, as a “shambles” and “embarrassing”.

Councillors debated the application from Homes England, the government’s housing agency, for three hours. Concerns were raised about traffic congestion and the loss of a football pitch on the site.

The planning committee had previously voted in June against a recommendation to approve the application.

Councillors said back then that the scheme should not be passed until publication of the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, a document that will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with wider plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.

Councillors were told this week a draft version of the parameters plan would not be published until February 2022 but, this time, they decided to approve the plans by seven votes to three.

Rene Dziabas, chair of HAPARA, criticised the decision of councillors on the committee, who he said were “badly briefed” by officers.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The meeting was a shambles. What communication was there between councillors and the planning department? Given this was a controversial deferral in June, you’d have thought there would have been a great deal of detail buttoned down, and a clear understanding from councillors about what the parameters plan is.

“I felt very let down [by the councillors]”.

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David Stephenson, senior planning manager at Homes England, warned councillors that while launching a costly appeal against the council was an “absolute last resort” for the body it was a route it was willing to take.

During the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh accused Homes England of “bullying” councillors into approving the plans.

Mr Dziabas said the decision to grant planning permission in the face of impending legal action from Homes England had damaged local democracy.

He added:

“There’s a great deal of talk about local democracy — this was not a good example of it.”

Arctic Monkeys to headline Leeds Festival 2022

Sheffield indie band Arctic Monkeys have been announced today as one of six headliners for Leeds Festival 2022.

They previously headlined the festival in 2009 and 2014.

The event returned to its usual location at Bramham Park this year after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Next year’s Leeds Fest will take place from August 25 to 28, over the bank holiday weekend, and will once again have two main stages and six headliners.

Veteran rockers Rage Against the Machine, UK hip hop artist Dave, pop star Halsey, metal band Bring Me The Horizon and US rapper Megan Thee Stallion were also confirmed at the top of the bill.

Other confirmed acts include Polo G, Little Simz, Circa Waves, Griff, Fever 333, Wolf Alice, Fontaines D.C., Jack Harlow, Enter Shikari, Madison Beer, Run The Jewels, Måneskin, and Bastille.

For more information visit the festival’s website.

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Disused Bilton car park to be used for council homes

Revised plans for five council homes on a disused car park in Harrogate have been approved at a second attempt.

Harrogate Borough Council’s housing team was sent back to the drawing board to rethink its plans for the site at Dene Park, Bilton, in May.

But the scheme has now gained approval after a planning committee meeting yesterday.

Councillors said previous concerns over the layout and designs had been addressed, although there were still questions over the loss of the car park.

Councillor Sue Lumby, a Conservative who represents Harrogate Coppice Valley, said:

“I have received a letter from a number of residents who are very concerned about parking. If cars are forced to park on pavements, it is going to make access for buses and refuse vehicles difficult.”

Gillian Wood, the council’s housing growth manager, responded by saying the car park was “grossly under-occupied” and that 12 new parking spaces would be built for the use of all residents over nearby grass verges.

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She said:

“This will reduce parking on the street.

“We have been monitoring the car park for quite a long time now and we are finding there are generally three cars on there.

“People have a preference to park outside their property, so if we can provide 12 off-street spaces that is 12 cars off the street, which should help.”

1,800 households on council waiting list

There are around 1,800 households on the council’s housing waiting list and the housing team said the car park would help provide “much-needed” accommodation for these residents.

Councillor Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader, also said the plans should be welcomed for this reason.

She said:

“There are people parking at the site, but it is very small in numbers. To me, what is more important is the almost 2,000 people on our housing waiting list.

“I’m really pleased the council is moving forward with this.”

Councillors unanimously voted to approve the plans at Tuesday’s meeting.

Popular Harlow Hill fruit and veg shop to reopen in February

Wharfedale Fruiterers on Otley Road in Harrogate will reopen with a new name and new owners in February.

The owners of the Shepherd’s Dog pub, Mike and Donna Schofield, opened the greengrocers during the first covid lockdown in a former barbershop close to the pub.

It also sold dairy, bread and meats and quickly became popular with Harlow Hill residents.

However, Mr Schofield closed the shop this year to concentrate on the pub and his wife’s illness.

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From February, the shop will be owned by a couple who currently run a fruit and veg stall on Ilkley market. It will be renamed Wharfedale Fruit and Veg but Mr Schofield promised not much about it will change.

He said:

“The great thing is they’ll purchase everything from the same market as me. They’ll keep Longley Farm dairy and eggs. It will be the same quality but they’ll put their stamp on it.

“They are well established and they know what they’re doing.”

Controversial 200-home Pannal Ash scheme approved

Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee has voted to approve Homes England‘s plan to build 200 homes on the site of the former police training centre in Harrogate.

Councillors debated the application for almost three hours today with discussion focused on traffic congestion and the loss of a football pitch on the site.

Seven voted in favour, three against and John Mann, whose Harrogate Pannal ward would be affected by the scheme, abstained.

Homes England, which is the government housing agency, had permission to build 161 homes on the Yew Tree Lane site but wanted to increase this by 23% to 200 homes by building on the pitch.

The planning committee voted in June against a recommendation to approve the application.

Instead it deferred the scheme pending publication of the West of Harrogate Parameters Plan, which will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with wider plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.

Councillors were told a draft version of the parameters plan would not be published until February 2022.

However, this time they decided to approve the housing scheme, with a representative of Homes England suggesting it would consider legal action if the application was deferred again.

More to follow on this story

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