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14
Feb
Harrogate College amends £22 million development plans
Harrogate College has amended its plans to build a new £22 million teaching facility at its Hornbeam Park campus after the project was halted by a legal challenge.
The scheme would see the construction of a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on modern building methods.
When planning permission was granted last April for the demolition of the existing building, it was envisaged that work would start shortly afterwards and be completed by this July.
But Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns the business park next to the college, launched a judicial review into the plans after raising concerns that the project would leave too few parking spaces available during construction.
Concerns were also raised by nearby residents and businesses that drivers would be forced to park outside neighbouring homes and premises, blocking parking spaces and causing obstructions.
Chris Bentley, of Hornbeam Park Developments, said at the time:
We feel there are deficiencies in the proposals and the council’s decision making, and we hope through this process we can ensure that a better proposal comes forward in the future.
In response, Luminate Education Group, which the college is part of, has now uploaded a raft of new documents to North Yorkshire Council’s planning portal, including a 20-page planning statement addendum outlining various changes to the original plans.
Chief among these are amendments to the parking arrangements both during and after construction work – the sticking point that gave rise to the legal challenge.
The document states:
A concern was raised previously by a neighbouring landowner about the lack of parking provision during the construction phase and the risk of displaced parking demand from staff and subcontractors.
While this was previously not a concern of the council in granting permission, it has been further addressed by the updated construction management plan which provides for 48 contractor / staff / visitor car-parking spaces during phase 1 of the construction and 15 during phase 2 of the construction (proportionate to the reduced number of construction workers operating on site during that time).
A CGI showing how the college's proposed new renewable energy technology centre would look.
It adds that a revised travel plan sets out a number of other measures to ensure there are enough parking spaces during the construction period, including the provision of funds to encourage staff to use public transport.
It notes that the existing site has a total of 242 parking spaces – described as “a substantial overprovision compared to the actual demand observed during the college's daily operations” – as a result of the building’s former use as offices.
Following a study of expected need, a total of 110 parking spaces are included as part of the new proposals, post-redevelopment – a 25% increase on the 88 originally planned.
The proposals are out for consultation until February 24, and the council aims to make a decision on the application by March 31.
The Stray Ferret has contacted Hornbeam Park Developments to ask whether it will continue to challenge the plans.
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