Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors will ask officials drawing up a new map for housebuilding in North Yorkshire to consider removing the 53-home Knox Lane site.
Developer Jomast has seen proposals at the location repeatedly thwarted by council planning committees, most recently in September.
The plans have been controversial in Bilton and Knox with residents claiming the development will destroy wildlife and a green corner of the Harrogate suburb.
More than 2,200 people have signed a petition calling on North Yorkshire Council to remove the site, known as H2, from inclusion in the new countywide local plan it’s working on.
If the Knox Lane site were excluded, it would significantly reduce the chances of houses ever being built there.
However, Jomast could be keen to secure planning permission before the new local plan is finalised in four years as the site is included in the current Harrogate district local plan.
Campaigners Margaret Cockerill, Alison Heyward and Jill Harrison collecting signatures.
Alison Hayward, who organised the petition, addressed councillors at the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee in Harrogate this morning.
Ms Hayward said:
“This community is made of individuals and families who treasure our peaceful natural surroundings and historic value. This community has residents who care and are worried about what will happen, and what we shall all lose if housing developments are allowed in H2.
“Including the site in the local plan would contradict the principles of sustainable and community-centred development.”
Councils are legally obliged to have a local plan that sets out where houses can be built over a minimum 15-year period.
The new North Yorkshire Council local plan is still in the early stages and officers are expected to issue a call for sites soon.
Site layout for the proposed Knox Lane scheme.
Councillor Paul Haslam, a Conservative for Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said if houses were built at Knox Lane residents would suffer because it was not near a bus stop or other local facilities.
He said:
“Imagine walking Knox Lane in the dark to get the 36 bus. There are other issues around adding to congestion, access to emergency services, flooding and building techniques required.
“Residents have made a constructive local-based consideration for us.”
Cllr Peter Lacey, a Liberal Democrat for Coppice Valley and Duchy, proposed a motion to ask North Yorkshire Council to give “serious consideration” to removing Knox Lane from the local plan.
Cllr Peter Lacey
The motion was backed by all councillors except Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat for Knaresborough East, who abstained because she sits on the council’s development plan committee overseeing the local plan process.
The Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee has an advisory role so any decision on whether Knox Lane is included in the local plan will be made at a later date.
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