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10
May 2022
Flood fears halt 61-bed Knaresborough retirement home
Developers behind plans for a Knaresborough retirement home have been told to make the building smaller and move it further away from the River Nidd.
Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today deferred a decision on the proposals for 61 extra care apartments near Grimbald Bridge after continued concerns were raised over flooding and the impact on local health services.
This was despite the Environment Agency and flooding specialists at North Yorkshire County Council raising no objections.
The developers, Adlington Retirement Living, also said there is “no record” of the site flooding and have agreed to pay £40,000 to help fund expansions at GP surgeries in the area.
However, local people claim the River Nidd has overflowed at the site as recently as February.
Resident Steve Benn told a meeting today:
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Mr Benn also claimed there are photos of the site flooded, but council officers said they have not seen any evidence.
Kate Broadbank, case officer at the council, said:
'Overload' health services
The Wetherby Road development was refused last year before councillors voted for a deferral in March when the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) lodged an objection.
The CCG previously said it was “extremely concerned” that another care facility in the area could “overload” local health services.
However, this objection has now been withdrawn after the £40,000 payment from the developers was agreed.
As well as this, Adlington Retirement Living have offered to pay for a new footpath connecting Grimbald Bridge as well as upgraded crossings after road safety concerns were raised by residents.
These proposals have been agreed in principle by highways officials at the county council.
'It is too large'
Speaking at today’s meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh said the retirement home amounted to “overdevelopment” of the site and that it should be reduced in size “considerably”. She said:
A revised application is now expected at a later date.
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