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20
Apr
Harrogate Spring Water expansion: What happens now?
The dust has settled on Harrogate Spring Water’s failure to convince councillors to approve its plans to expand its bottling plant — but questions still remain over what happens now.
North Yorkshire Council's Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee unanimously rejected the application at a meeting on Friday (April 17).
It would have meant felling 500 trees to make space to create more plastic bottles.
Elected councillors rejected planning officer John Worthington's recommendation to approve the scheme.
So, where does Harrogate Spring Water go from here and what options are available to it?
Recap
Before getting into what the company can do from here, it is worth recapping the reasons why councillors rejected the expansion proposal.
After an hour and 45 minutes inside the council chamber at Harrogate Civic Centre, the five members of the committee gave two reasons for refusal.
Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water.
The company already has outline planning approval, which was granted in 2017. As a result, the reasons for refusal at this reserved matters application could only be based on appearance, scale, landscaping, access and layout.
The first centred on landscaping and the replanting of trees. Cllr Peter Lacey, a Liberal Democrat member of the committee, felt the dispersal of trees was “inadequate” and contravenes the national planning policy framework.
The council’s decision notice states:
The quantum, location and characteristics of the landscaping proposed is considered inadequate to mitigate the loss of existing planting and habitats as a result of the development.
The second reason for refusal, which was proposed by another Lib Dem, Cllr Hannah Gostlow, related to the appearance of the factory expansion.
It states:
The appearance of the proposed extension lacks local distinctiveness and as such is considered unacceptable for its setting within a special landscape area and adjacent to a local green space. As such it is considered contrary to policy HP3 of the local plan and guidance contained within the national planning policy framework, specifically para 135.
What happens now?
Harrogate Spring Water could appeal the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
The body deals with planning disputes on a range of applications including housing, employment sites and tree protection orders.
It has six months to lodge an appeal.
Campaigners against Harrogate Spring Water's plans outside the Civic Centre.
Given the length of time the proposal has been with the authority and the fact that on two occasions councillors have gone against officer recommendations, the company could see it as a legitimate means of gaining approval.
However, the appeal process is costly, lengthy and could involve days of hearings overseen by a planning inspector.
There are also the optics of making such a move.
Does Harrogate Spring Water want to be seen to be appealing against elected councillors who in the eyes of many members of the public gave legitimate planning reasons for refusing the plan? Especially when it would be taxpayers who fund the council’s defence?
But, there is another option the company could take.
Rather than go down the adversarial route of a planning appeal, it could look to work with council officers to resolve the concerns raised by councillors.
The move would mean Harrogate Spring Water having to submit yet another application, but it would avoid costly appeal fees and retain an element of goodwill among people in Harrogate.
What is Harrogate Spring Water likely to do?
At the moment, the company is keeping its cards close to its chest.
In his statement on Friday, Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, said the firm remained “confident in our plans” and was still committed to “investing in the business community”.
He added that the company would now “carefully consider next steps”.
Mr Hall said:
Our plans have been recommended for approval by the council and we have addressed the two reasons given for deferring this decision at the previous meeting. Throughout this process, we have worked constructively with officers and the local community to strike the right balance between sustainable development and economic growth.
We feel our proposal represents a significant investment in Harrogate – creating over 50 new jobs, delivering an annual £2.3 million boost to the local economy, and a commitment to protecting the local environment.
We are confident in our plans and will carefully consider next steps. Our commitment to investing in the business and community remains unchanged.
In his response following Friday’s meeting, Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the decision as a “welcome but temporary reprieve”.
Mr Gordon warned that those who oppose the plan should be wary of "future attempts to destroy our cherished woodland".
It seems even the expansion’s objectors know that the saga is not yet over.
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