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Jan 2024

Last Updated: 18/01/2024

'Viability' issues continue to delay revival of Starbeck's Harper's building

by Lauren Ryan

| 18 Jan, 2024

The old Harper's building in Starbeck

Six years after the fire that ravaged the former Harper’s building in Starbeck, there still appears little prospect of the issue being resolved soon.

The once-prominent landmark on High Street remains an eyesore, despite local volunteers sprucing it up in the colours of the Ukraine flag two years ago.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, indicated in October that a public exhibition outlining plans to bring the building back to use was expected to go ahead before Christmas. But the exhibition was cancelled.

The Stray Ferret has covered the issue widely in recent years so in light of the exhibition not taking place we sought an update on the future of a building that was originally a Harper’s grocery store but traded as McColl’s supermarket when fire broke out.

Planning agency Zerum Consulting said in a statement:

“The owner of the site is in pre-application discussions with the local planning authority. We can confirm that the development proposed includes ground floor retail / commercial floorspace, with apartments above.

"Unfortunately, the public exhibition is pending due to further discussions with the planning officer on viability given the significant rises in interest rates and construction costs post-covid.

"The cost of rebuilding the site runs to many millions of pounds and the ongoing discussions are around viability although the owners remain committed to redevelopment and have (and continue to) spent significant sums on designing a scheme to lift the whole area.”

Postmaster Andrew Hart, who runs the Red Box in Starbeck, has been campaigning for the building to be brought back to life for years.

He said the building "remains one of the main topics of conversation within my post office and with all the other traders in Starbeck".

Mr Hart added:

"My group, along with volunteers from The Prince of Wales, the Knit Wits, and Starbeck Post Office have all invested a lot of time and money in tidying up and then looking after the external condition of the building for the owners.

"We have also spent a lot of time defending the owners against the critics, we deserve something of an insight and possible timescale for what has been a blot on our village Hight Street since 2017. So come on please will the owners and North Yorkshire Council quash the rumours and tell us all the truth, remove this carbuncle and get on with the promised retail units and affordable housing now.”

Mr Hart said the delay and uncertainty was undermining "what is becoming a thriving High Street".

He added:

"We need affordable apartments for local people first, with much-needed retail units below. People are waiting to move their business to Starbeck High Street."

The Stray Ferret has contacted Cllr Philip Broadbank, the Liberal Democrat councillor for the area, but has not yet received a response.

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