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12
Apr 2022
Government rejects expansion of Follifoot business park
The government has rejected an appeal for a business park in Follifoot to expand onto green belt land.
Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected a bid to build two new buildings at Follifoot Ridge Business Park, which would have created space for five commercial units.
The development would have taken place on a small strip of land alongside existing units (pictured above), which were previously allowed because they were classed as farm conversions.
The site owners said the new units would help to meet demand from businesses for more space. Following the council's refusal, Uffa Kirkby appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
But Robert Walker, the planning inspector who oversaw the appeal, said the harm to the green belt was not outweighed by the economic benefits of the scheme.
In his decision notice, Mr Walker said:
Read more:
- What is green belt land and how would Harrogate look without it?
- Flaxby Park ponders next move after eco-resort plans refused
In June last year, the council’s planning committee said the proposal was “inappropriate” and harmful to the green belt.
However, ahead of the appeal, the developer argued that the scheme was not inappropriate and disagreed with the authority’s conclusion.
How the business park would look with the commercial units built on the green belt land.
The business park’s planning agent, ID Planning, said in a statement of case:
It added that the scheme had economic benefits and would not have an “impact on the openness of the green belt”.
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