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25
Nov
Business park expansion will ease “pent-up demand” for Harrogate employment sites
The owners of a business park on the outskirts of Harrogate have been granted planning permission for a major expansion.
North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee voted 7-0 today (November 25) to approve a second phase of development at Harrogate West Business Park on Burley Bank Road, close to the army foundation college.
It paves the way for ventilation company Envirovent to expand and gives opportunities for other businesses to occupy units ranging in size from 3,300 square feet to 31,300 square feet.
Daniel Martin, co-owner of Teakwood Developments, which applied for the scheme in conjunction with DS Estates, told the meeting the decision would “unlock pent-up demand” for employment sites in the Harrogate area.
Mr Martin said the business park in Killinghall had performed “better than expected” since it opened in 2022 and more firms wanted to move in.
He added it would mean an extra £750,000 of business rates for the council each year.
Mr Martin speaking at today's meeting.
Council case officer Emma Walsh recommended councillors approve the project in a report before today’s meeting even though it would mean encroaching on land not designated for development under the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35.
Ms Walsh said the “lack of availability of existing sites to suit business requirements does constitute a material consideration in this regard” and the benefits outweighed the harm.
Christopher Dunn speaking at the meeting.
‘Killinghall is full’
Christopher Dunn, a local resident, urged councillors to reject the proposal.
Speaking at today’s meeting, Mr Dunn said the area was unsuitable for cycling and Killinghall already had four business parks and about 1,800 more homes than required under local planning guidelines.
He added:
Just how many more are we supposed to take? Killinghall can’t take any more. It’s full. Please don’t hammer Killinghall anymore, especially without improvements in infrastructure.
Councillors (from left) Haslam, Windass, Mann and Timothy at today's meeting.
Councillor John Mann, an Independent who represents Pannal and Oatlands, said he understood Mr Dunn's points, but Harrogate needed more light industrial sites.
Cllr Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East, raised concerns about the business park location being over reliant on car travel.
Mr Martin said the company had agreed to restrictions on HGV movements, noise limits and solar panels to make it more acceptable.
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