Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
09
Feb 2022
Plan for 390 homes in Ripon set for final approval
Plans for 390 homes at a former race track in Ripon are set for final approval after a long saga of refusals, appeals and a developer pulling out of the scheme.
The proposals for land off West Lane have been recommended for approval by Harrogate Borough Council, which initially rejected the scheme in 2017 over the impact on the countryside and nearby Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site.
This decision was later overturned by the government’s planning inspectorate which said the impacts would be “extremely limited”.
Two years later, the plans hit another hurdle when developers Barratt Homes pulled out before the government’s housing agency Homes England and developers Taylor Wimpey struck a £89.5 million deal to get the scheme back on track.
Marie Kiddell, head of planning and enabling north at Homes England, recently said the body wanted to intervene in the “stalled” site because it would play a “vital” part in meeting the growing need for housing.
A reserved matters application has now been recommended for approval at a council meeting next Tuesday when a final decision will be made.
Read more:
- 22-home ‘affordable’ development in Staveley refused
- Taylor Wimpey gets £89.5m contract to build 390 Ripon homes
The plans include 155 affordable homes, 42 bungalows, cycling and walking links, a new bus route and children’s play areas.
Four objections have been lodged with the council, including one from Littlethorpe Parish Council, which flagged concerns over how the area’s roads, schools and health services will cope with another population increase.
Ripon City Council did not make any comments on the latest plans.
Recommending the plans for approval, a Harrogate Borough Council officer said in a report:
A computer generated image of the 390-home West Lane site in Ripon.
£455,000 for buses, traffic signals and cycling
If approved, the plans will also include a £455,000 contribution from the developers towards local bus services, £91,000 towards upgrades for nearby traffic signals and £50,000 towards cycling improvements.
Taylor Wimpey recently said it hoped to start construction of the homes this spring if approval is granted.
The company’s regional land director Sarah Armstrong said:
0