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29
Nov 2021
'No justification' to delay building 200 homes in Pannal Ash
Harrogate Borough Council officers have said a decision to delay a controversial proposal to build 200 homes on a former police training centre site in Pannal Ash was “not justified”.
The council's planning committee deferred a decision in June on whether to approve the development on the Yew Tree Lane site, pending publication of the West of Harrogate Parameters Plan.
The parameters plan will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with wider plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.
As reported by the Stray Ferret, the decision to defer was met with frustration by Homes England which told the council in an email it was “extremely disappointing”.
Now council officials have told councillors that the decision had “no policy basis” and urged them to approve the scheme next week.
In a report due before the council’s planning committee next week, they say the parameters plan will not “replace or alter any of the policy requirements set out within the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35”.
It adds that the Local Plan, which describes where development is permitted to take place in the district, is the "starting point" for determining any application submitted to the council.
The report says:
Read more:
- Controversial plans for 200 homes in Pannal Ash halted indefinitely
- Homes England ‘frustrated’ by delays to 200-home scheme at Police Training Centre
Football club’s fury at plans to axe Harrogate sports pitch for housing
The report goes on to say that the development would make "a valuable contribution to meeting the district’s housing need”.
It recommends councillors approve the proposal at the planning committee meeting on December 7.
Homes England, the government housing agency, has permission to build 161 homes on the site on Yew Tree Lane but wants to increase this by 23% to 200 homes by building on a sports pitch.
Indicative masterplan of the homes on the former police training centre, as included in the planning documents.
The proposal has proved controversial with Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, which said its faith in the planing system was being “severely tested” by the development.
A spokesperson for HAPARA said:
Homes England has already appointed property company, Countryside Properties, to build the scheme as part of a £63 million contract.
The contract was awarded in March this year and runs until December 2026.
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