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04
Jun
Hornbeam Park: Reduction in parking spaces prompts fresh concern
Hornbeam Park Developments has said it is reviewing its position after councillors gave the go-ahead for a £22 million redevelopment of Harrogate College.
Last week’s decision by North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee paved the way for the college to demolish its main building on Hornbeam Park and build a new teaching facility that includes a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite and electric vehicle workshop.
Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns the business park next to the college, launched a judicial review over concerns that the project would leave too few parking spaces during construction.
Luminate Education Group, which the college is part of, submitted revised proposals that were supported by councillors.
But David Waddington, of Hornbeam Park Developments, told the planning meeting there was still a “better solution” that would “eliminate all the parking problems”. You can read more here.
Councillor Sam Gibbs, a Conservative who represents Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate on North Yorkshire Council, abstained in last week’s vote. The five other councillors all backed the scheme.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Gibbs said parking concerns had not been addressed and claimed Cllr Andrew Timothy, a Liberal Democrat whose Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone division is next to Hornbeam Park, had disappointed residents by proposing the changes.
Cllr Gibbs said:
I am very supportive of Harrogate College's scheme which is a much-needed investment in our area. But like my colleague Cllr Mann who spoke at the meeting, I have concerns about parking during the construction phase which sees the number of spaces reduce from 242 to just 13. So the proposal to defer the application whilst other options were explored, to me, seemed sensible.
The committee didn't support that and voted to approve the application as it was. Cllr Timothy, who represents the streets most likely to be affected by this proposal, even proposed the recommendation and reduction to 13 spaces which I know has disappointed some local residents.
A Hornbeam Park Developments spokesperson said yesterday (June 3):
We are very conscious of the groundswell of concern over this matter, as are numerous other people. In view of this, we are reviewing our position.
Hornbeam Park Developments owner Chris Bentley outlined the approach he supported in this article.
Danny Wild, the principal of Harrogate College, which is part of Luminate Education Group, said after last week's meeting:
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, and David Skaith, the Labour mayor for York and North Yorkshire, both welcomed the decision.
Luminate Education Group has said construction on the scheme is expected to begin in the "coming months". The new buildings are set to open to students in the 2026 academic year.
Asked to respond to Cllr Gibbs' comments, Cllr Timothy said:
While I do understand why some residents and councillors are concerned, I agree with statements made at the meeting – if there were a solution which would increase the number of parking spaces available, it would already have been found during the production of the full travel plan, which already includes many measures to limit the impact on local residents. All a deferral would accomplish would be more unacceptable delays.
Cllr. Gibbs’ reference to the total number of spaces in the car park today is misleading – as we heard in the meeting, only 42 members of college staff drive regularly to work, and each has agreed an alternative travel plan for the duration of construction, funded by the college.
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