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13
May
Green light set to be given tomorrow to 1,300 homes in Ripon
Councillors have been urged to approve plans for 1,300 homes in Ripon when they meet tomorrow (May 14).
The homes, off Clotherholme Road, would have a significant impact on the city, sweeping away key sites of military history and leading to significant changes to roads and junctions.
The plans include a new primary school, sports pitches, a country park and a neighbourhood centre.
Four city centre junctions will be improved and Clotherholme Road, Kirkby Road, College Road and Trinity Lane will be redesigned to prioritise pedestrian safety and encourage cycling.
It would increase Ripon's population by about 3,000 people, which is greater than the combined size of Masham and Pateley Bridge.
Ripon Military Heritage Trust said in a statement it was "extremely disappointed" and fears rare 1939 military huts and training bridges that played a key role in 20th century warfare will be destroyed. We will publish more on this in a separate article shortly. The Stray Ferret is backing the trust's campaign to save Ripon's military history — you can sign the petition here.
A report by case officer Kate Broadbank at North Yorkshire Council recommends councillors on the strategic planning committee grant outline approval, subject to the final details being agreed. The 14 councillors on the committee will decide whether to accept the recommendation.
Ms Broadbank's report concludes:
Where the homes would be built. Pic: Homes England
Harrogate Borough Council backed the scheme in February last year, shortly before it was abolished.
The report said it had come back to North Yorkshire Council's strategic planning committee, which determines major planning applications, because of new information and ongoing discussions around the section 106 payments that developers are required to pay to councils to compensate for the impact of their schemes on local infrastructure.
The section 106 payments include:
- £2.7 million to North Yorkshire Council to provide a new primary school
- £1,9 million to North Yorkshire Council to improve facilities at Ripon Grammar School and Outwood Academy secondary schools
- £1.1 million towards health care
- £198,250 towards bus services.
If councillors approve the scheme, the principle of development will be established; the details will be ironed out in a subsequent reserved matters planning application.
Government agency Homes England, which is proposing the scheme, will appoint a housebuilder once the scheme is ratified.
Ripon Barracks in north-west of Ripon remains an active Ministry of Defence site but is due to be decommissioned over the next few years.
The 85-hectare development site is accessed via Clotherholme Road to the south and Kirkby Road to the north.
Read more:
- New Clotherholme plans heighten fears for Ripon's military heritage
- New details of Ripon's 1,300-home Clotherholme scheme released
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