Revised plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council to build 126 houses in Knaresborough.
The homes, along with car parking, open spaces and a children’s play area, would be built on two fields used for grazing off Water Lane.
The fields are close to Hay-a-Park site of special scientific interest, which is regarded as an important breeding site for goosander ducks and protected Canada geese.
The site has been subject of multiple proposals for new homes, which the Stray Ferret has covered extensively.
Knaresborough Town Council and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, were among those to object last year when plans were submitted to North Yorkshire Council for 138 homes. More than 600 people also signed a petition opposing the scheme.
Previous plans for 218 homes and 148 homes on the fields were rejected.
View of a section of the proposed site, south and west to school boundary and rear of Carmires Avenue and Halfpenny Lane
New plans for fewer houses have been drawn by Haines Phillips Architects on behalf of applicant Geoffrey Holland.
But Andy Bell, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Knaresborough Town Council who organised last year’s petition, said:
“I’ve spoken with a number of nearby residents who are steadfast in their opposition to this proposal.
“It’s still accessed by narrow estate roads, still very close to the site of special scientific interest and still is on the site of an unlicensed tip that has suspicions of asbestos buried. This site isn’t appropriate.”
To view or comment on the application, visit North Yorkshire Council’s planning website and type reference ZC23/02886/FULMAJ.
Hay-a-Park, site of special scientific interest
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