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07
Aug
Call for decision on 210 homes near Spofforth to be delayed
Wetherby Civic Society has called for a decision on controversial plans for 210 homes on the North Yorkshire border to be delayed.
The 13-hectare site lies within the former Harrogate district – so legally in North Yorkshire – but in practice would form an extension of Wetherby, which is in West Yorkshire and served by Leeds City Council.
Hallam Land Management, which is based in Sheffield, submitted the proposal to North Yorkshire Council in June last year.
The controversial plan has attracted hundreds of objections from residents concerned about traffic and the character of the area.
North Yorkshire Council officers have recommended that the scheme be approved at a strategic planning committee meeting in Northallerton on August 11.
The proposed development would be on the edge of Wetherby, but falls within North Yorkshire.
However, Wetherby Civic Society has called on councillors to delay a decision on the proposal amid concerns that a council report makes contradictions on its assessment of the plans.
The society has submitted a 15-point request for deferral.
It says the report reaches opposing conclusions on the loss of high-quality agricultural land.
It also questions why the report states a 2.2-year housing land supply when the figures printed in it appear to produce 2.8 years. Other concerns include a speed camera listed among the benefits although one is not secured by the proposed conditions and the absence of an NHS capacity assessment or healthcare contribution.
Malcolm Gardner, vice-chair of the civic society, said:
We are not asking councillors to reject new homes. We are asking them not to make a decision this important on a report that contradicts itself. North Yorkshire would count the houses, while Wetherby would absorb much of the pressure on roads, schools and doctors.
Of the 210 houses, 84 would be classed as affordable.
The land, to the north of the A661 road between Harrogate and Wetherby, abuts the edge of the Spofforth Park residential development by Bellway at Ingbarrow Gate.
In a planning statement supporting the application, development consultancy Lichfields, acting on behalf of the applicants, pointed out that there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
However, residents submitted more than 360 letters of objections against the proposal.
Many objectors said the plan would see residents rely on Wetherby for roads, schools and amenities rather than North Yorkshire. One resident said the scheme would lead to "the death of Wetherby".
Leeds City Council also objected to the plan and raised concern that the site would primarily affect Wetherby’s housing need.
In the report due before the committee meeting, Sam Binney, case officer at the council, pointed out that the area had a “a significant shortfall in housing land supply”.
Following the publication of this article, North Yorkshire Council officer's changed their recommendation for the strategic planning committee to defer the proposal for officers to consider late representations made in relation to the plans.
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