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05
Oct 2022
Contamination concerns delay decision on 53-home Knox Lane site
A decision on plans for 53 homes in Harrogate has been delayed after concerns were raised that the site is likely to be contaminated by coal and tar spillages from a former railway track.
More than 300 residents objected to the Knox Lane plans and also paid for their own experts to assess the site, which was once part of a railway that transported carriages between gasworks and Bilton Junction.
An agent for the developers Jomast told a Harrogate Borough Council meeting today that the firm had carried out initial ground investigations and was committed to providing more information to council officers who had recommended approval.
However, councillors said they could not support the plans until they had seen the full investigation outcomes for themselves.
The proposed development
There were also further concerns over flooding, the discovery of badger setts, a lack of public transport connections and that the development of the site near Oak Beck could cause “ecological damage”.
Councillor Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge, said much more work was needed on the proposals which he described as “wrong, wrong, wrong”. He said:
The plans first submitted in April 2020 initially included 73 homes, but this was reduced to 53 after local complaints.
Despite further changes, residents have continued to strongly oppose the development with a total of 313 objections and no letters of support being submitted to the council.
Residents’ concerns are so strong that they commissioned a toxicology specialist to examine the proposals.
Read more:
- Controversial Knox Lane housing plans recommended for approval
- Bilton garages set to be demolished for housing
Dr Damien Bowen told today’s meeting that he believed “extensive investigations” were needed due to the health and environmental risks of the likely presence of contamination. He said:
The field earmarked for development.
Ward councillor Paul Haslam also argued that these concerns have not been taken seriously enough by the council, which he claimed had taken no notice of “compelling” evidence that the plans should not be approved. He said:
The proposals – which include 30 homes classed as affordable – will be brought back to another meeting of the council’s planning committee in the coming months.
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