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23
Nov
Concern over demolition of historic Harrogate almshouses
Town councillors have raised concern over the demolition of historic almshouses in Harrogate which date back to the 1930s.
Harrogate Housing Association has proposed demolishing the property known as Applegarth Homes and replacing it with a modern development of 26 affordable flats which would be restricted to the over-55s.
The charity, which has owned the almshouses since October 2017, said the current site on Knaresborough Road was “no longer fit for purpose”.
Proposals submitted to North Yorkshire Council would see the site flattened in a two-phased development and replaced with 20 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments.
Oldham-based architects Nicol Thomas, which lodged the plan on behalf of the charity, said in planning documents:
This application has been made in conjunction with the current land owners, Harrogate Housing Association, as it is their ambition to redevelop the site to provide additional high quality affordable homes.
The current building which houses 10 units is no longer fit for purpose, in terms of current accommodation requirements and sustainability standards.
The proposed scheme for the Applegarth Homes site.
Cllr David Goodall, Reform UK councillor for Bilton Woodfield on Harrogate Town Council, told a planning committee meeting on Wednesday (November 19) that the building dates back to 1939.
The almshouses, which consist of 10 flats, were built by Miss Jane Birdsall Walker in memory of her parents. She maintained the property up until her death 1962 when the Applegarth Homes Almshouse charity was established by her will.
Cllr Goodall said:
It [the building] holds heritage value. That building would be a loss for that area. It would be a loss of heritage.
Henry Pankurst, of Harrogate Civic Society, added in a letter to the council that the building was of interest and attractive “in its own right”.
He said:
It displays the date 1939 in the stonework and so is at something of a crossroads in design terms. It naturally has features of 1930s design which generally would not survive after the Second World War.
Although the Almshouses are a long building of just two storeys, which emphasises length, much thought went into the design to ensure an attractive appearance.
The civic society also objected to the planned scheme.
Meanwhile, Graham Dixon, Liberal Democrat councillor for Harlow, added that parking provision at the site — which would see 10 spaces provided — was inadequate for the number of people living there.
Councillors voted to object to the plan on the grounds of lack of parking for the number of residents who would be reliant on cars and the potential loss of a heritage site.
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plans at a later date.
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