Controversial plans to create a new junction and access road close to an ancient grade one listed Ripon chapel could be ‘called-in’ after numerous objections.

Councillors can request planning applications are ‘called-in’ when they want them to be decided in public by a planning committee rather than by an individual council officer.

L Ryan and S Newby received planning permission in June 2023 to convert two barns at The Beeches, off Magdalens Road, to homes.

The existing access road that connects the site and Magdalens Road, alongside the Chapel of St Mary Magdalen, was due to be upgraded as part of the scheme.

But the applicants are now applying for a new junction to be created slightly further north on Magdalens Road to serve the homes.

They say this would be further away from the chapel, which dates to the 12th century and was once a church for lepers, and protect the chapel wall, which was due to be lowered under the original plans.

Four trees with preservation orders would be felled as part of the proposals.

A planning, heritage and design and access statement on behalf of the applicants says the new plans “satisfy highway requirements for visibility” and would create a 10% biodiversity net gain due to new landscaping, despite the loss of trees.

It adds:

'Significant material changes'

However, the application has received objections from Ripon City Council, Ripon Civic Society, the chapel trustees and local residents, some of whom attended last week’s city council meeting to raise concerns.

City councillor Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who also represents the area in her capacity as the North Yorkshire councillor for Ripon Ure Bank and Spa, told last week’s city council meeting she has requested to North Yorkshire Council that the application is ‘called-in’, which means it would come before the Skipton and Ripon area planning committee rather than a council officer.

Cllr Brodigan said there were “significant material changes to the original planning application” and she had concerns about the loss of trees and the safety of the access road.

Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of the Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group, said:

'Dangerous' road

Cllr Jackie Crozier, a member of the Independents Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group, said she was disappointed North Yorkshire Council had not agreed to paint double yellow lines on the “dangerous” Magdalens Road.

Tony Whitehead, a resident, raised concerns at the meeting about gypsum and the lack of a turning point for vehicle owners using the chapel under the new plans.

Another resident, Stanley Mackintosh, also highlighted gypsum concerns, and said “it would seem prudent for this issue to be clarified before any further steps are taken on the development”.

The chapel trustees have called for the latest plans to be rejected on the grounds that they “constitute a material amendment” to the original planning permission for the homes.

Ripon Civic Society cited concerns about the loss of trees in its objection.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret this week, Cllr Brodigan said she was still waiting to hear from North Yorkshire Council whether her call-in request had been approved.