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May 2021

Last Updated: 10/05/2021

Environment

Decision on 200 homes in Pannal Ash delayed after protests

by Calvin Robinson

| 10 May, 2021

Harrogate Borough Council was due to decide tomorrow whether 200 homes could be built at the former police training centre in Pannal Ash. But it has now delayed the matter after residents complained they were not given the right to object at the meeting.

The site boundary of the development on Yew Tree Lane.

Harrogate Borough Council has postponed making a decision on controversial plans to build 200 homes on a former police training centre site.

The council’s planning committee was tomorrow due to hear the proposal for the site on Yew Tree Lane in Pannal Ash.

However, Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents Association called for the application to be moved after it said several people who objected to the plans were not told about the meeting and that nobody from the group had been invited to speak against the plans.

The council today admitted it had made an error and withdrew the item on the agenda.

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It now intends to make a decision on June 3.

HAPARA welcomed the delay but said said no decision should be taken until a parameters plan for the western side of Harrogate is agreed.

A total of 4,000 homes are due to be built on the western side of town, including those at the former police training centre.

The parameters plan, which the council is developing, assesses transport and infrastructure needs associated with the housebuilding. It was expected last year but has been delayed.

The spokesperson for HAPARA said it had received assurances from the council that no new developments would be considered in the area until the plan had been agreed

The spokesperson said:

“Whilst we welcome the postponement from the planning meeting tomorrow we are very concerned that the revised date has been suggested of June 3.

"Although this will give groups opportunity to review the latest reports it is unlikely that the area parameters plan will have been approved by the council.

“It has been agreed by all parties that this parameters plan is a key and critical document needed before any major new developments are considered in the area. As such this application must be delayed whilst infrastructure and other facilities/ amenities in the western arc arc of Harrogate are finalised. Without this we will continue with further piecemeal planning decisions.”

The council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there had been an "administrative error".

It said in a statement:

“We would like to thank the people who made us aware of the issue. The opportunity for people to speak at planning committee meetings is an important part of the democratic process.

“The item will now be considered on June 3, which should give everyone interested in the application time to put their views to the committee.”

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Decision on 200 homes in Pannal Ash delayed after protests

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