A plan to demolish Harrogate’s former Debenhams store on Parliament Street has been withdrawn.
Wetherby-based property company Stirling Prescient submitted a proposal to demolish the three buildings that Debenhams was situated in and replace them with 50 flats and two commercial units.
The site on Parliament Street has been home to different retailers for more than a century. Before Debenhams, it housed the Buckley’s and Busby’s stores.
However, according to Harrogate Borough Council’s online planning portal, the application has now been withdrawn.
It follows an objection from Emma Gibbens, the council’s conservation officer, who raised concerns that the demolition of the building would harm the local area.
She said:
“The loss of the traditional building form and architectural detail would be harmful to the street scene and character and special interest of the conservation area, the building forming part of the designated heritage asset in a manner that contributes positively to its character.”
A CGI view of the planned apartments at Debenhams on Parliament Street.
Ms Gibbens added that the developer needed to prove that the demolition was justified.
The objection followed similar concerns from campaign group Save Britain’s Heritage, which said the developer had failed to provide “clear or adequate justification” for demolishing the building.
Read more:
- Heritage groups say ‘no justification’ for Harrogate Debenhams demolition
- Plans submitted to demolish former Harrogate Debenhams
- Harrogate council conservation officer ‘cannot support’ Debenhams demolition
However, Historic England said it supported regeneration of the site but added that there should be a “sensitive conversion” of the two older department store buildings.
Stirling Prescient said in documents submitted to the council:
“The proposals as a whole will strengthen the town’s vitality and viability, increasing footfall and contributing to the local economy.
“The proposal represents a sustainable form of development and therefore benefits from the presumption in favour of sustainable development, meaning planning permission should be granted without delay.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Leeds-based planning consultants Quod, which were the agent for the developer, to ask why the application was withdrawn.
However, we did not receive a response by the time of publication.
