A Harrogate property developer is considering legal action over the town’s £10.9 million Station Gateway project.
Chris Bentley, who owns Hornbeam Park Developments, has concerns about the legality of North Yorkshire County Council’s consultation process.
In a letter from his lawyers, Mr Bentley threatened to take the local authority to a judicial review.
The letter, which was sent to the county council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which all support the scheme, said that the second consultation “failed to include sufficient reasons for and information upon particular proposals to allow those consulted to give intelligent consideration and an intelligent response”.
In response, the council said that it did not accept that the second consultation was unlawful.
It argued that the council proposed to undertake further consultation on the Harrogate scheme.
In response, it said:
“A further consultation can address your client’s concerns, but also provide a pragmatic resolution and avoid the costs of formal litigation.”
Read more:
- What’s next for Harrogate’s £10.9m Station Gateway?
- Another consultation to take place on £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway
Mr Bentley told the Stray Ferret that he felt the council had come up with “utopian ideas” and that the plan should be shelved.
He said:
“They just keep throwing the dice until they get the right answer. I think it should be shelved.
“There is so much other stuff that the town needs.”
He added that he would still pursue a judicial review because he felt the council’s decision making process is “flawed”.
Last month, the Stray Ferret asked the county council if there had been a legal challenge against the scheme.
Karl Battersby, Corporate director of business and environmental services at the council, said there had been “no formal legal challenge in response to issues raised regarding the consultation last autumn”.
The gateway scheme is set to undergo a third round of consultation this year.
In a report, county council officers said the consultation will be held alongside the publication of traffic orders required for the scheme.
It said:
“A further consultation will commence in July alongside the publication of the draft Traffic Regulation Orders required to implement the changed highway layout. Construction is targeted for an early 2023 start.”
The gateway project includes proposals such as the pedestrianisation of part of James Street and the reduction of a section of Station Parade to single lane traffic to encourage walking and cycling.
