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27
May
Councillors approve £22 million redevelopment of Harrogate College
Councillors have approved a £22 million plan to build a new teaching facility at Harrogate College.
The scheme will see the demolition of the existing college buildings on Hornbeam Park and construction of a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on modern building methods.
Councillors on North Yorkshire Council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee gave the go-ahead for the project at a meeting at Harrogate’s Civic Centre today (May 27).
The scheme was originally approved in April 2024.
But Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns the business park next to the college, launched a judicial review after raising concerns that the project would leave too few parking spaces available during construction.
In response, Luminate Education Group, which the college is part of, submitted revised proposals, which included a 20-page planning statement addendum outlining various changes to the original plans.
The revised travel plan included a number of measures to ensure there are enough parking spaces during the construction period, including the provision of funds to encourage staff to use public transport.
How the college's proposed new renewable energy technology centre would look.
It noted that the existing site has a total of 242 parking spaces – described as “a substantial overprovision compared to the actual demand observed during the college's daily operations” – as a result of the building’s former use as offices.
Following a study of expected need, a total of 110 parking spaces are included as part of the new proposals, post-redevelopment – a 25% increase on the 88 originally planned.
'There is a better solution'
However, David Waddington, of Hornbeam Park Developments, told today’s meeting that there was a “better solution” for the scheme in relation to car parking.
He said:
Firstly I want to emphasise that we want the best for Harrogate when it comes to educating young people and adults. However, there are huge sustainability problems with this scheme and there is a better solution.
The recent refurbished teaching block is to be demolished, when it could be actually reused to a smarter alternative brought forward which would see the new facility built on the adjoining land which is controlled by the Department for Education.
Mr Waddington added that such a solution would “eliminate all the parking problems” associated with the scheme, including parking while the project is constructed.
Cllr John Mann, who represents the area in the Oatlands and Pannal division, said while he supported the redevelopment of the scheme “in principle”, the proposal would cause “serious parking issues”.
Cllr Mann requested that the proposal be deferred.
Meanwhile, Colin Booth, chief executive of Luminate Education Group, told councillors the college’s main education building was “coming to the end” of its life.
He said:
Keeping the old building would require a major refurbishment, which would be very poor value for money compared to a new build and demolition. The Department for Education agrees with this analysis which is why they are providing grant and loan required for this new build project.
Councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee voted unanimously to approve the application.
'Immensely pleasing'
Following today's meeting, Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said he was pleased with the decision.
He said:
It is immensely pleasing to have now secured planning permission to pursue this forward-looking, innovative and value for money investment into Harrogate’s educational infrastructure.
We are now awaiting written confirmation from the local authority to proceed with Harrogate College’s rebuild. The new campus will enable increased breadth and quality within the curriculum on offer at the college, allowing us to better support local and regional skills needs. As the only general further education college in the area, I’m excited to see the benefits these new facilities will bring local young people, adults and the economy.
Luminate Education Group said construction on the scheme is expected to begin in the "coming months". The new buildings are set to open to students in the 2026 academic year.
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