Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
30
May
Campaigners warn of "years of traffic and parking chaos" over Harrogate College redevelopment
A campaign group has criticised a decision to give the go-ahead for a £22 million redevelopment of Harrogate College.
The scheme will see the demolition of the existing college buildings on Hornbeam Park and construction of a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on modern building methods.
Councillors on North Yorkshire Council's Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee approved the project at a meeting at Harrogate’s Civic Centre on Tuesday (May 27).
However, RE:VISION-Harrogate College, a campaign group led by Hornbeam Park Developments, said the move was “a lesson in poor decision making”.
David Waddington, spokesperson for the group, said:
We are deeply disappointed that the proposed £20m+ redevelopment of Harrogate College has been approved by North Yorkshire Council’s planning committee.
These plans, in their current form, are nothing short of a lesson in poor decision-making which will unleash years of traffic and parking chaos onto nearby residents and effectively flush millions in public funds down the drain.
This also represents a major failure for students by delivering a smaller facility which is not fit for the future and goes against the college’s growth ambitions.
We were never against investment in the college – far from it. In fact, our alternative solution, which involved the use of neighbouring land controlled by the Department for Education, would have paved the way for Harrogate to become an educational powerhouse for the region. But the approval of these plans throws that golden opportunity out of the window.
Hornbeam Park Developments, which leads the RE:VISION campaign, had even pledged to help the college build meaningful partnerships with local and global businesses to enrich its curriculum and create valuable student opportunities.
Mr Waddington added that “students, staff and the wider community, will pay the price” as a result of the planning committee’s decision.
The campaign group says it was now “reviewing its position” in light of the planning approval.
Revised plans
The college’s scheme was originally approved in April 2024.
But Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns the business park next to the college, launched a judicial review after raising concerns that the project would leave too few parking spaces available during construction.
In response, Luminate Education Group, which the college is part of, submitted revised proposals, which included a 20-page planning statement addendum outlining various changes to the original plans.
The revised travel plan included a number of measures to ensure there are enough parking spaces during the construction period, including the provision of funds to encourage staff to use public transport.
However, Mr Waddington told councillors at Tuesday’s planning committee that there was a “better solution” to the plans which would “eliminate all the parking problems” associated with the scheme, including parking while the project is constructed.
Colin Booth, chief executive of Luminate Education Group, told councillors the college’s main education building was “coming to the end” of its life.
Decision welcomed
Meanwhile, Danny Wild, principal at Harrogate College, said following the decision:
It is immensely pleasing to have now secured planning permission to pursue this forward-looking, innovative and value for money investment into Harrogate’s educational infrastructure. We are now awaiting written confirmation from the local authority to proceed with Harrogate College’s rebuild.
The new campus will enable increased breadth and quality within the curriculum on offer at the college, allowing us to better support local and regional skills needs. As the only general further education college in the area, I’m excited to see the benefits these new facilities will bring local young people, adults and the economy.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough said "this rebuild represents a much-needed upgrade to our skills infrastructure" and David Skaith, the Labour mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said "this project will not only benefit learners, but it will also help drive economic growth and innovation across Harrogate and North Yorkshire".
0