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Oct 2024
Major plan for 480 homes in Harrogate set to be approved
A major plan to build 480 homes in Harrogate looks set to be approved.
Gladman Developments Limited tabled plans to build the houses on Whinney Lane as part of a wider scheme which will see up to 700 homes built.
The proposals, which will go before the North Yorkshire Council's strategic planning committee next week, also include land for employment, a retail centre and public open space. You can read the report here.
Provisions would also be made for 192-homes to be classed as affordable and the site would be accessed through Whinney Lane and Lady Lane.
The land is earmarked for housing under the Harrogate and District Local Plan, which was adopted by the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council in 2020.
The site makes up several developments in the west of Harrogate, which is expected to see up to 4,000 homes built up to 2035.
An application for 224 homes on a separate part of the site, which is known as H51 in the local plan, was approved in August.
In documents submitted to the council, the developer said the latest proposal would “deliver a mixed use development that contributes towards meeting the planned housing and employment growth for Harrogate".
Sites earmarked for housing in the West of Harrogate.
But David Siddans, of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, said in a letter to the council that while residents support housing and employment on the current site, the application fails to consider the impact on the local community.
He said the proposaldid not take into account the impact of construction traffic between Whinney Lane and the site, which he described as being “seriously underplayed”.
Mr Siddans said:
As a general position, HAPARA accepts the Local Plan designation of this site for housing and employment and wishes to see progress on the delivery of housing. However, the manner in which this development is delivered, and the impact on the local community are extremely important considerations to get right. In several respects the application fails to do this.
Meanwhile, Harrogate District Cycle Action said the transport strategy included in the proposal would focus on increasing the number of cars at the site.
In a letter to the council, it said:
The transport strategy claims that it takes a 'decide and provide' approach. This would involve prioritising active and sustainable travel, and only increasing capacity for motor vehicles as a last resort.
In fact, the transport strategy does not take a 'decide and provide' approach, and is fundamentally focused on increasing capacity for motor vehicles in an outdated 'predict and provide' way.
Section 106 contributions
Gladman's planning application was submitted in 2019.
Council officers have recommended that the proposals be approved subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement.
Section 106 contributions for the plan include £8.3 million towards highways, £2.4 million for the construction of a new primary school and £1.6 million for the expansion of current secondary schools.
Meanwhile, the NHS has requested £394,061 to provide the additional healthcare facilities generated by the needs of the development and £1,068,846 is set to go towards the provision of off-site football, cricket and rugby pitches.
Councillors will make a decision on the plans at a strategic planning committee meeting in Northallerton on October 8.
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