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10

May 2023

Last Updated: 09/05/2023
Environment
Environment

Government rejects 13-home plan on former Ripon timber yard

by Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter

| 10 May, 2023
Comment

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ripon-6th-feb-2023-former-timber-yard-trinity-lane

The government has rejected a plan to build 13 homes on a former Ripon timber yard.

Red Tree Developments wanted to demolish buildings at the site of the former NY Timber yard to build the homes. The site on Trinity Lane was home to a timber yard from 1860 to 2018.

However, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the plan in December 2020 on the grounds that the scheme would cause “unacceptable harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area.

The developer took the authority to appeal. However, the government’s Planning Inspectorate has now dismissed the challenge.

Zoe Raygen, planning inspector, rejected the proposal on the grounds that the scheme did not have sufficient ground investigations and the impact on nearby heritage assets.

She said:

“The loss of the undesignated heritage asset would be harmful and would cause harm to heritage assets, but this harm would be outweighed by the benefits of the proposal.
“The proposal is in conflict with Policy NE9 of the Local Plan, and given the implications for stability and safety of future occupiers, this brings it into conflict with the development plan as a whole.
“The material considerations I describe above are not sufficient to outweigh that conflict in this instance.”





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Jay Everett, a planning consultant who submitted the appeal on behalf of Red Tree, said the loss of the timber yard building would offer “no contribution to the setting”.

Red Tree bought the 0.64-acre plot, which is adjacent to the listed buildings, Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School and St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, from Cairngorm Capital for an undisclosed sum in 2020.

In its original planning application, the developer said the timber yard, which is not listed, must be replaced due to its “poor state of repair”.

Meanwhile, Red Tree lodged a separate application for the site in February.

The new proposal seeks consent for the change of use and conversion of the former warehouse space to form 12 houses.