Readers' Letters: National planning policy applies to all developers — including Ripon Cathedral

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This letter is about Ripon Cathedral's annexe plans. A week rarely goes by without a letter dropping into our inbox to debate the subject. 

With regards to the development plans of Ripon Cathedral, it seems odd that some supporters have failed to grasp that the plans are against national planning policy.

Whether there was a campaign group behind this or not, whether the public land was for sale or not, I believe the developers' proposals would still infringe planning regulations.

An aboriculture report submitted as part of the revised plans says there would be up to 16% damage to the root system of the veteran tree. 

But the National Planning Policy Framework states:

It is clear that there is a deterioration to the veteran tree, so I am surprised as to why supporters should be so shocked that Ripon City Council voted this plan down.

The financial viability is not a ‘wholly exceptional reason’. 

Finally, it cannot be that the developer believes that national policy should be over-ridden and dismissed simply because they are the Church of England - the time for that level of entitlement is over.

Brian McHugh. Blossomgate, Ripon

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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