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21

Apr 2022

Last Updated: 21/04/2022
Environment
Environment

Final backing for 72 homes in Spofforth

by Calvin Robinson

| 21 Apr, 2022
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A plan to build 72 homes in Spofforth has been given final backing by Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee.

spofforth-2
Developers appealed a council decision to refuse a plan for 72 homes in Spofforth.

A plan to build 72 homes in Spofforth has been given final backing by councillors.

Yorkshire Housing Ltd plans to build the housing development on land at Massey Fold in the village.

A government planning inspector approved the homes in October 2021 following an appeal by the developer against Harrogate Borough Council’s refusal.

The developer already had outline permission to build on the site, but councillors turned down an application for appearance and landscaping in November 2020.

A reserved matters application, which includes access to the site, was backed by the authority’s planning committee today.

Cllr Robert Windass, who sits on the committee, said councillors had no choice but to approve the plan.

He said:

“We rejected this at committee and we felt strongly that it would not go ahead.
“The Planning Inspectorate has had a different decision. They [the developer] have now got planning permission. Our hands are tied.”


Meanwhile, Cllr Pat Marsh said:

“In some respects our hands are tied.
“This went to appeal and it was given permission. This is sort of a final legal tie up.
“I am sorry to think that this is going to go ahead. It is something that this committee strongly opposed every time it came here. That is why it went to appeal.”


Inspector backs Spofforth homes


Siobhan Watson, a government planning inspector, gave the go-ahead for the proposal in October after she said she found the design and proposed housing “to be acceptable”.

She also awarded costs against the council after finding that the authority “behaved unreasonably” and that its reasons for refusal were “vague and illogical”.

The decision followed concerns from local residents over the design and that the housing would not be in keeping with the village.

At the time, more than 300 local people and organisations, including Natural England and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, raised concerns about the scheme.

Shirley Fawcett, chairman of Spofforth with Stockeld Parish Council, wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson appealing for help in challenging the development.