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10
Jul
Moss Healthcare set for Killinghall return?
Moss Healthcare Harrogate has said it is interested in entering discussions about opening a new surgery in Killinghall.
A public consultation was held in the village yesterday (July 9) about plans to build 130 homes and a health centre on 6.82 hectares of arable land at the junction of Otley Road and Grainbeck Lane. The Stray Ferret attended.
Representatives from Hallam Land, the Sheffield company that plans to submit a formal planning application on behalf of the local landowner, said at the meeting the health centre would be operated by Moss Healthcare Harrogate.
The doctors’ practice closed its Killinghall site in October last year but still operates on King’s Road in Harrogate and at Jennyfields.
Yesterday's public consultation event.
The Stray Ferret today asked Moss Healthcare Harrogate about its plans.
A spokesperson confirmed it was interested in a return to the village — but added it would need funding to do so.
They said:
Following the enforced closure of our Killinghall branch site in October 2024, Moss Healthcare have always said that we are committed to the people of the Killinghall area. Therefore, we would engage positively and explore any options for providing healthcare services from a modern, purpose-built healthcare facility in the area, which would need funding and the approval of our local integrated care board, should there be an opportunity to do so.
Integrated care boards are NHS bodies that oversee local health services and spending.
The proposed site off Otley Road.
Will the application be approved?
Representatives at yesterday’s drop-in session said a formal planning application was expected to be sent to North Yorkshire Council shortly.
The site is not allocated in the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place. But because North Yorkshire Council is drawing up a new local plan, the developers think that if their application is rejected they would have a good chance of overturning the decision on appeal because the council cannot demonstrate it has a deliverable five-year housing land supply.
This has led to fears that the district is wide open to a flood of speculative planning applications that would be difficult to reject. Look for an article about this on the Stray Ferret this weekend.
Killinghall has grown significantly over the last 15 years and some residents feel the village cannot cope with more homes.
Miller Homes also applied last month to build 75 houses in the village.
Hallam Land's site map
Information boards at yesterday's drop-in session said the houses will be no higher than 2.5 storeys.
Land has also been allocated for school parking for Killinghall Primary School.
An information board at the session said:
Vehicular access to the site will be gained off Otley Road with a walking and cycling link to the north-west corner (near the proposed car park) to facilitate easy access to Killinghall centre. The link is also proposed to connect the public footpath to the south.
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