About 30 Knaresborough residents and the town council have objected to plans to build nine flats on the site of one of the town’s oldest houses and its garden.
Paul Franklin has submitted plans to demolish the property and build the homes on land off Stockwell Road.
Mr Franklin said the scheme would “provide local people a quality and sustainable place to live and enjoy Knaresborough”.
But some 30 objections have been made to the North Yorkshire Council, which will approve or reject the application. The decision will either be made by the council’s planning committee, which consists of elected councillors, or by an individual planning officer.
The objectors include Knaresborough Town Council, which said in its submission the development would be “overbearing and will overlook neighbouring properties particularly gardens affecting other residents privacy”, create parking problems and increase congestion.
It added trees were removed from the site during nesting season and the application was “not sufficiently different from the previous one” refused in 2007.
Its concluded:
“Knaresborough Town Council ask that the application is strongly rejected and that it should go to the North Yorkshire Council’s planning committee for consideration.”
A group of residents recently asked to meet the Stray Ferret at the site to voice their concerns.
Estelle Green, whose garden on St Margaret’s Road has traditionally overlooked trees, now faces the prospect of neighbours being able to see into her home. She said:
“Our community is devastated, we are all standing together.”
The green area where the flats would be built.
Ann Briscoe agreed, adding:
“We would lose our privacy and the scheme is completely out of keeping with the area.”
Tony Sandland said traffic problems and pollution were major concerns, along with fears that concreting over the garden would increase the risk of flooding.
The objections submitted on the council website include concerns about the scheme worsening “gridlock across the railway bridge” on Stockwell Road, the “inadequate” number of parking places in a residential area close to the town centre, a GP surgery and schools.
There is also concern about the loss of the current stone building, which one objector says is “steeped in history, farming, once a bakery and many years ago a sweetshop”.
Another objection says the size of the proposed three-storey development, overlooking two-storey properties, “is completely out of proportion and would lead not only to a loss of privacy but to a significant loss in natural light”.
There are fears the development will heighten parking difficulties on adjoining St Margaret’s Road.
‘Quality and sustainable places to live’
A design and access statement submitted as part of the planning process said the applicant has identified a need for housing in the specific area and “the proposals will have no detrimental effect to the surrounding properties”.
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Franklin to respond to concerns. He said:
“For over 12 months we have been in consultation with the council. Under the guidance of external consultees, we have carefully designed a scheme to provide local people a quality and sustainable place to live and enjoy Knaresborough.
“Comments have been received from local residents mainly covering historically-recurring issues which need to be raised with the relevant bodies – Yorkshire Water, highways authority etc.
“Knaresborough has a rich history, but the site is not a historical asset or listed building and is beyond economical repair despite significant investment during ownership.
“Our garden was cleared of nettles, perennial weeds and thistles and four disease-ridden / choked trees over the past two years. Felling of diseased trees was done outside of nesting season, and no Tree Protection Orders were in place.
“For further comment, please see the responses made to individual commentators that will be submitted to the council as part of the consultation.”
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