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11
Apr 2022
Flaxby Park ponders next move after eco-resort plans refused
The owners of the former Flaxby Golf Course say they are considering their next move after plans for an eco-resort at the site were rejected by Harrogate Borough Council.
The council refused the plans – which included 350 holiday lodges and a hotel – because of an “unacceptable” impact on the environment.
Knaresborough Town Council also complained there was “no proven business case” for the abandoned golf course site, where proposals for 2,750 homes were previously rejected in a decision that wound up in a legal battle over the Harrogate district Local Plan 2015-35.
A 300-bedroom hotel was also previously planned for the site, but these separate proposals never materialised.
Flaxby Park Ltd now has an option to appeal the latest decision against the eco-resort. It said it “remains confident that the proposal is appropriate for the site” and that it is now “considering the appropriate course of action”.
A company spokesperson said:
Read more:
- Flaxby parish council calls for government to reject eco-homes
- Business park near Flaxby that could support 2,000 jobs approved
The eco-resort proposals also included an outdoor swimming pool, spa and sports area, pub/restaurant and shops for the former golf course which closed in 2014.
Noise concerns
The site sits alongside the A1(M) and another concern raised by the council was what it described as “constant traffic noise” from the motorway.
In response, Flaxby Park Ltd said while traffic noise may be audible in some areas of the site, the presence of a “significant tree belt would minimise the impact.”
It added:
In a decision notice, the council said the scale and layout of the eco-resort were “considered to have an unacceptable adverse impact upon the district’s natural and historic environment”.
It also said the proposals would cause harm to the Grade II listed Temple of Victory momentum which sits in the grounds of the nearby Allerton Park.
These are the reasons for refusal, which could be examined by a government planning inspector if Flaxby Park Ltd decides to once again launch a legal challenge against the council.
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