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03

Aug 2021

Last Updated: 03/08/2021
Environment
Environment

Council rejects controversial plan for 217 homes on Kingsley Drive

by Calvin Robinson

| 03 Aug, 2021
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The council received hundreds of objections to the scheme and no responses in favour. The Kingsley Ward Action Group said the traffic caused by the homes would make congestion worse in the area.

kingsleylayout
The proposed layout of the homes on Kingsley Drive as submitted by developer Persimmon Homes.

Harrogate borough councillors have rejected a controversial scheme for 217 homes on Kingsley Drive.

The council received 388 objections to the scheme and no responses in favour.

The current application, submitted by Persimmon Homes, has seen the number of properties planned on the site reduced from 244 to 217.

But Harrogate Borough Council planning officers said the proposal “was not considered acceptable”.

The Kingsley ward area will eventually see more than 600 homes built, including developments at Granby Farm and 149 homes on Kingsley Road.



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However, residents have raised a number of concerns over Persimmon’s plan, including overdevelopment and traffic congestion.

Chris Watt, speaking on behalf of Kingsley Ward Action Group, said the traffic caused by the homes would make congestion worse in the area.

He said:

“As we have already seen from current developments taking place, our local roads are not designed for construction traffic.
“Congestion on Knaresborough Road is already bad and this would only be made worse by the number of houses proposed for this site.”


Meanwhile, Cllr Nigel Middlemass, ward member for Kinglsey, told the committee that the development had not been thought through.

He said:

“This is the biggest and worst thought out [housing site] in the area. It is far too intensive and well above the numbers in the local plan.”


Paul Butler, agent for Persimmon Homes, requested that the committee defer the application so that the council and developer could work on the design and layout of the scheme.

However, the council’s planning committee voted unanimously to reject the scheme.