A new £500,000 office space dedicated to digital and technology firms in Harrogate is set to open next month.

Springfield House, which is directly above Harrogate Convention Centre on King’s Road, has been refurbished since Harrogate Borough Council staff left the premises in 2017.

The authority secured £540,000 of funding from the Leeds City Business Rates Pool to fund the project.

Known as Co-Lab, the offices feature 10 serviced offices with desk space for up to 10 people, high-speed broadband, a lounge and kitchen, meeting rooms and showers.

Tenants will also have access to information about issues such as funding and investment, supply chains and talent recruitment.

Read more:

• Work starts on £500,000 business hub at former Harrogate council offices
• £500,000 contract awarded for Springfield House upgrades

Alistair Forbes, Harrogate Borough Council’s in-house growth manager who will support businesses at Co-Lab, said: 

“Over the last few years, we’ve lost count of the number of people who have asked us ‘are there any co-working or incubator office spaces in Harrogate?’.

“This got us thinking; we needed to find a way to meet this demand and it needed to be dedicated to digital, creative and tech businesses who really need this type of space.

“Co-Lab will be focussed on digital and tech businesses, but we are inviting anyone interested in collaborating with the business community to talk to us. From designers, to hardware specialists, technologists, marketers and developers, our aim is that everyone works together to help our community become more successful.”

Businesses wishing to join Co-Lab will ideally need to be in the digital and creative industries business sector.

This includes fintech, augmented reality and virtual reality, digital health, film and animation production, music, digital content creation and management, immersive technology and content, publishing, cyber security, data, gaming, or product design.

For more details email hello@harrogateco-lab.co.uk or visit: www.harrogateco-lab.co.uk.

Sainsbury’s is planning to open its new Harrogate’s town centre store in the next couple of months.

The supermarket chain had hoped for a late summer opening but only managed to get permission from Harrogate Borough Council in late July.

When the new Sainsbury’s Local shop opens it will create 25 new jobs and also bring the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street back into use after four years.

While there’s not been too much movement at the store in recent weeks, the internal fit out is due to start before the end of November.

The developer plans to split the building into three seperate units. Sainsbury’s would occupy the largest on the left side.

Read more:

• Harrogate Civic Society has ‘many concerns’ about Station Gateway
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Skipton Building Society is also planning to move in but it is unclear at this stage which business will take on the third unit.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said:

“We’ll soon be moving to the next stage in the fitout of our new convenience store for Harrogate and I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape as it really starts to look like a Sainsbury’s Local.

“It won’t be long now until residents, workers and shoppers in the town centre will be able to enjoy great value, high quality products as well as the improved convenience and choice that a new Sainsbury’s store will bring.”

Mr Dunne added that his team is also in the process of finding a charity to donate excess food to.

Sainsbury’s already has four stores in Harrogate: a large store on Wetherby Road and smaller Local stores on Leeds Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.

A deep clean of Ripon’s alleyways will get underway next week in one of the first projects to be launched by the city’s new Business Improvement District.

The BID, which levies firms to fund city centre improvements, is starting its first initiatives after receiving the backing of businesses in a vote held in summer when 80% supported setting up the body.

Elizabeth Faulkner has been appointed as interim manager and said a deep cleaning of city centre alleyways will begin on Monday before other plans, including networking events, are held in the New Year. She said:

“We know these alleyways are key to the way visitors and residents use the city so we want to make them as attractive as possible.

“There has been lots of talk about what they could be used for, but first we will clean them up and then look at lighting.

“These are of course just a small part of Ripon and we have got a big destination to make an impact on so we will then start to move around the city for more deep cleaning.”

Of the 87 businesses who voted during the summer, a total of 70 – or 80% – were in favour of creating a BID.

Read more:

• ‘Embarrassing’ shortage of poppies to buy in Ripon
• Urgent plea to demolish four Ripon homes affected by sinkholes

It means more than 280 firms within a defined area are now contributing to an annual budget of £160,000 for projects to create a safer, cleaner and better promoted city centre.

A Harrogate BID was created in 2019 but plans for a body to promote Knaresborough were rejected in October after the proposals proved to be unpopular.

Ms Faulkner, who previously managed Altrincham BID, said:

“We are aware of what has happened with other BIDs in the area. But this is Ripon’s BID and an exciting opportunity for businesses to be part of how they would like their city to move forward.

“We want as many of them as possible to get involved and the success of the BID will come from us all getting behind it.

“The pandemic has been an extremely tough time for businesses in Ripon, but the way they have worked to come out of this period has been remarkable.

“We have got incredible restaurants, independent shops and great visitor attractions. It is our job to put this package together and let people know how well worth a visit Ripon is.”

The BID has also appointed Lilla Bathurst, who previously worked for Hull BID, as assistant manager, while 13 directors drawn from the business community have been made board members.

The first networking events for businesses will be held on January 17 and 24.

Harrogate’s first food hall is to close just six months after it opened in the former Jamie Oliver restaurant on Parliament Street.

Solita Food Hall Harrogate, which is set over two floors and a rooftop terrace, started serving customers in May.

It has six different stalls, all under the Shoot The Bull brand, and also welcomes other independent businesses on board. It created 30 jobs.

Founder Chris Harrison, chief executive of Shoot The Bull, told the Stray Ferret earlier in the year he hoped Harrogate would welcome the concept with open arms. However, Mr Harrison confirmed today that the Harrogate venue will close at the end of the year.

He added that staff would be offered employment at the next restaurant set to take on the building.

Read more:

• Steakhouse set to open at empty Harrogate restaurant
• First food hall opens in Harrogate next week

Tomahawk Steakhouse, which had been planning to move into the empty Bistrot Pierre restaurant on Cheltenham Parade, is now planning to move into Solita Food Hall’s space.

The steakhouse had planned to open in January but with the change of location it is unclear at this stage when it will open for business.

A post on its Facebook page said:

Co-founder Howard Eggleston has been planning to bring his steakhouse brand to Harrogate for four years.

Businesses and council representatives clashed in a heated two-hour debate about the £10.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme last night.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce hosted the largest face-to-face gathering to discuss the revised design plans.

The meeting revealed deep divisions between businesses and those championing the scheme, which aims to make the area around the train station more attractive and easier to navigate for cyclists and pedestrians.

Only four people out of about 75 in the room stood when asked to do so if they supported reducing traffic on Station Parade to single lane.

That is one of the most controversial aspects of the scheme, along with pedestrianising the section of James Street from Princes Square to Station Parade

The meeting ended with some businesses threatening to apply for a judicial review to halt the scheme. But why are businesses so opposed to a scheme that is supposed to make the town centre more attractive and increase visitors?

Below are some of the key talking points.

As consultation on the revised plans, which are supported by North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, draws to a close on Friday, it remains to be seen whether the issues can be resolved.

1 Why is it necessary?

North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access who is leading on the scheme, said Harrogate was the most congested place in North Yorkshire besides York.

He said a Harrogate congestion study run by the council four years ago in response to the decision not to proceed with a bypass, provided a mandate for change because about 80% of respondents said they wanted the town centre to be friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians. The study generated 15,500 replies, which Cllr Mackenzie said was the council’s “largest ever public engagement”.

Harrogate businessman Terry Bramall said a lot had changed in the four years since the Harrogate Congestion Study. He said plans to pedestrianise part of James Street would “create havoc with traffic flows” and questioned why cycling groups had been consulted but “as a property owner on James Street I haven’t been approached”.

Cllr Mackenzie replied that he’d spoken to three businesses on James Street that were supportive of the scheme and that those proposing it had “made themselves available at all times”.

Don Mackenzie (left) speaking at last night’s meeting.

2 Loss of parking and disruption

Just 40 parking spaces would be lost, said Cllr Mackenzie, mainly on James Street. But some businesses were worried about the knock-on effects.

Sue Savill, director of Party Fever on Station Parade, said plans to reduce Station Parade to single lane traffic and build a cycle route on land currently used for parking outside shops on her side of the street would create major problems.

Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there were plans to make it easier to cross Station Parade but added “you are one of the businesses we need to speak to about logistics”.

Ms Savill said this was all very well but carrying a pallet of stock into the shop from the other side would be problematic.

Read more:

• Harrogate businesses consider legal challenge to Station Gateway
• Station Gateway: the story so far of the £10.9m scheme

3 Where is the evidence it will boost trade?

Nick Brown, a Conservative who represents Bishop Monkton and Newby on Harrogate Borough Council, asked whether a detailed economic assessment of the impact on businesses had been conducted and, if so, could it be made public before the consultation ends.

Dan Harper, executive officer economy and transport at Harrogate Borough Council, said the final economic impact assessment couldn’t be produced until the final designs for the scheme, which is currently at revised design stage, were available. Mr Harper said this was the standard ‘continual process’ approach recommended by the Treasury, adding:

“It’s not something we ignore or don’t do.”

Independent retailer William Woods also asked for evidence that the scheme wouldn’t have a negative impact on the town’s economy.

Cllr Mackenzie replied:

“I believe this investment will be a boost to the town centre.”

Hazel Barry, chief executive of toiletries firm H2k, said:

“I don’t see any evidence. There’s nothing in this report that says it will bring me more customers and bring more visitors to the town. If we are going to move forward on this project we need some answers otherwise it’s a lot of money for not much reward.”

Just four people in the meeting supported making Station Parade single lane.

4 Is the traffic modelling accurate?

Businesses were sceptical about claims that making Station Parade single lane would not cause congestion or clog up side roads, particularly those off Cheltenham Parade.

Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers, asked “are we going to let a computer programme decide the future of our roads?”.

Sarah Spencer, of tax consultancy Sarah Spencer Ltd, said such modelling tended to “start with the answer they want and work back”.

Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said there would be an extra two or three cars a minute on Cheltenham Mount.

Responding to questions about why Harrogate Borough Council had not deemed an environmental impact assessment necessary, he said:

“The impact on air quality isn’t a massive one.”

Aidan Rayner, Transforming Cities Fund delivery project manager at North Yorkshire County Council, denied claims that traffic data was based on lockdown levels. He said it was based on 2018 levels even though there was evidence that traffic had reduced by 6% since then.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at the county council, said there had been “no meddling of the data” and said this scheme didn’t go as far as others elsewhere in the country to encourage active travel, which had introduced measures such as low emission zones.

5 Will it make the town centre more attractive?

The gateway aims to improve people’s first impressions of Harrogate when they arrive by train by opening up the space around the Queen Victoria monument. It also aims to increase footfall by encouraging more people to bring their bikes on the train to Harrogate, or make it easier and more pleasant for local people to cross the town centre on bike or foot.

Daniel d’Arcy Thompson, managing director of Fabric and Co, said the gateway epitomised “pocket planning” whereby funding was secured for individual projects that didn’t take a joined-up approach to improving the town. He said:

“This is micro pocket planning at its worst. Until you give us a full scheme it’s just nonsense.”

Cllr Mackenzie said other schemes in the pipeline, such as the Otley Road cycle route, showed a joined-up approach to getting across town by bike.

Fortune Tofa, an accountant, told the meeting:

“The town is looking dated. We need to be bold and embrace this to continue to be relevant.”

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends on Friday. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

To take part in the online consultation, which ends on Friday, click here.

The Harrogate Station Gateway project is set to reach a crucial stage as the final round of consultation draws to a close this week.

Residents have until Friday to give their say on the contentious proposals, which would change the look of the town centre.

Here is the story of the scheme so far and what happens next.

What is the Station Gateway project?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42 million in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby paid for by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

It is led by North Yorkshire County Council in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Since it was launched back in February, the project has outlined measures such as the part-pedestrianisation of James Street, reducing Station Gateway to one-lane and improvements to One Arch.

Should it be approved, it is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

What does the council say?

Council officials say the purpose of the scheme is to improve walking and cycling in the town centre.

They also say that it will benefit businesses, despite concern over the project – in particular the pedestrianisation of James Street between Princes Square and Station Parade.

In October, Matthew Roberts, economy and transport officer at Harrogate Borough Council, told an online consultation event the scheme was a case of “short-term disruption for long-term gain”.

He said national case studies from similar schemes had shown they could boost trade by up to 40% by making the town centre more attractive and easier to access for non-car users.

Read more:

• First glimpse of how Harrogate will look after £10.9m transformation
• £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway ‘must focus’ on cycling and walking
• £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway will ‘boost business’

He also pointed to a KPMG report, which outlined the impact of covid on town centres across the country and what can be done for high streets to survive the pandemic.

The authority has used the report, as well as a 2019 congestion study in Harrogate, to back up its proposals. However, it is unclear what further impact assessments it has taken.

The council is working against the clock as the Department for Transport has set a deadline of March 2023 for the scheme to be completed.

Recently, the authority revealed that one of the reasons it chose not to fully pedestrianise James Street was because of the threat of a public inquiry if it were objected to – which could delay the project.

The option to part-pedestrianise was the least supported during its first consultation, with most people backing a full pedestrianisation.

But officials said the move struck an “appropriate balance between the wishes of respondents and risks to delivery of the scheme”.

They added in the Gateway proposal document:

“This extension in delivery timescales would likely result in funding deadlines being missed, which would prevent implementation of the full scheme, and so full pedestrianisation is not considered viable at this time.”

What do the public say?

A number of consultation events have been held in an effort to offer people a chance to have their say on the project.

In the early stages, events were only online due to the covid pandemic and the national lockdown.

Following the first consultation, council officials released a 160 page report which summarised the 1,101 responses to their proposals.

Of 935 people who replied to a consultation question about traffic on Station Parade in the survey, 49% preferred the one-lane option, 27% preferred the two-lane option and 24% preferred neither.

Of the 934 who replied to a question about pedestrianising the northern section of James Street, between Princes Street and Station Parade, 54% said they were either positive or very positive about it while 38% were negative or very negative towards it.

Read more:

• Harrogate residents form group to fight £10.9m Station Gateway
• Station Gateway: Too much money and creates no-go zones, say residents
• Tensions flare at first face-to-face Station Gateway meeting

The publication of the report led to an agreement to move onto the detailed design stage and another round of consultation.

This time, the meetings have been held both in public and online. Three in-person consultation events have been held in Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre.

Last month, the first physical event in Harrogate saw tensions flare as residents quizzed council officials over the proposals.

A further meeting raised concern over “no-go areas” amid fears for public safety at night. However, others did feel the scheme overall “was a good idea” despite potential traffic fears.

But concerns over the project has seen some local residents take action.

Some members from the Granville Road Area Residents Association have set up the Gateway Action Group to oppose the gateway scheme.

They said the consultation has been rushed and failed to take into account their views

What do businesses say?

Many businesses have remained sceptical over the multi-million pound scheme amid fears of a drop in footfall as town centre traders recover from the covid pandemic.

Much of the concern is over the impact of reducing Station Parade to one-lane and the part-pedestrianisation of James Street.

Latest Station Gateway visuals which show Harrogate’s James Street pedestrianised.

Back in August, local business organisations launched their own survey in an effort to canvass opinion on the scheme.

The survey was sent to more than 900 businesses and 180 replied.

Of those that responded, a total of 79% believed that reducing Station Parade to a single carriageway would be of no benefit to town centre businesses, and 68% felt likewise about pedestrianising James Street.

Ahead of the lifting of restrictions and public gatherings being permitted, businesses called for a public meeting with council bosses to have an “adult conversation” on the matter.

Those crunch talks will take place tonight at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting.

What happens next?

People in the district have until November 12 to have their say on the detailed design stage of the project.

Following the closure, final proposals for the scheme will be drawn up ahead of a decision on whether or not to implement the scheme.

If approved, it is anticipated that construction will start in spring 2022 for approximately 12 months.

For more information and to have your say, visit the West Yorkshire Combined Authority website.

Three independent businesses have come together to rent a pop-up in Harrogate for two weeks.

The three owners started their ventures over the past three years but said, with the move towards online shopping, opening a permanent shop individually was unviable.

They said high rents, long-term contracts and the need to constantly stock a shop, meant craft fairs and pop-up shops suit their businesses better.

Jane Gales, of Jane Gales Design, Julia Gabler, who owns 2 Little Mice and Rachel Locke, of R.Locke Designs, said they felt town centres would prosper with independents if more spaces like the Harrogate pop-up shop opened.

Ms Gabler said:

“I had looked into a shop, yes, but with the overheads and the fact I would have to make all my products whilst serving in a shop it doesn’t work for a lot of businesses like ours.

“Also, some places I looked into wanted me to sign a five-year contract and I just can’t commit to that. It’s important for me to stay fresh and not saturate the market.”

The three businesses have shared the shop space.

The current retail climate, post-covid, has been a challenge for some of these businesses. Ms Gabler said her online orders flourished but Ms Gales said being un-eligible for a government grant made it difficult.

Ms Gales said:

“It wasn’t great for me, I’d only started the previous year so I didn’t have a website. As a new business there was no government grant available. It was really, really hard. I had a private commission that luckily for me saved my business.

“I think small businesses especially will look for more pop-ups as it gives you the visibility without worrying about the big overheads.”

Read more:

• Harrogate gets another pop-up shop as demand soars
• Cancelled Harrogate Christmas Market finds new home at Crimple

Rachel Locke said:

“After lockdown sales went down again, but then getting back out there to markets again exposed me to new customers. But for me social media.”

The three businesses will be in the Harrogate pop-up shop until the end of next week.

Barker Proudlove and Victoria Shopping Centre came up with the idea to rent out the outlet opposite Cafe Nero back in August.

Businesses can rent the space for between one and six weeks and the £400 weekly cost includes rent, business rates, water, electricity and furniture.

Well-known Harrogate independent jewellers A. Fattorini the Jeweller has announced it will close after 190 years of trading.

Thought to be the oldest independent jeweller in Harrogate, A. Fattorini, has been on Parliament Street since 1884.

But owners have announced today they plan to cease trading and close the iconic store.

It is currently run by Anthony Tindall, but his retirement has led to a decision to close.

The closure of the Harrogate institution will be marked by a closing down sale starting on November 13.

Mr Tindall said:

“The decision to close the store has been incredibly tough. It’s undoubtedly the end of an era for Harrogate and for our family.

I have loved my time in the business and am going to miss the customers, many who have been coming into the store for many years to purchase special and sentimental pieces.”

A. Fattorini, was founded in 1831 by Antonio Fattorini. Originally from Lake Como in Italy, Antonio senior later settled in Harrogate and set up his business to serve the town’s wealthy visitors during the ‘Summer Season’.

In 1859, the shop was passed onto the hands of his son, also Antonio, who established himself in the Harrogate business communty and was the one at the helm when the store moved onto Parliament Street.

Antonio never married so when he died in 1912 the business was passed onto his brother-in-law John Tindall.

The business remains in the Tindall family today and is currently run by Antonio’s great, great grandson Anthony Tindall. Mr Tindall is due to retire and with no plans for succession the store must close.

The closing down sale will see items such as diamond and gold jewellery, pearls and engagement rings will be reduced by up to 50%.

Read more:

• Ripon’s only toy shop relocates
• Cancelled Harrogate Christmas Market finds new home at Crimple

The Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate is to get a second pop-up shop in the run-up to Christmas.

The company behind the initiative, Barker Proudlove, said it had seen a surge in enquiries in the run-up to the festive season and was confident it could fill another unit.

The pop-up shops give independent businesses the chance to rent units in the centre of Harrogate on a weekly basis without having to commit to long-term rents and rates.

The first one opened in the Victoria Shopping Centre on the corner of Cambridge Street in September and is already fully booked until Christmas,

Following its success, the former Grape Tree health food shop is also to become a pop-up.

Read more:

• Rural art studio in Knaresborough a hub for creativity and mindfulness
• Harrogate’s Pine Marten pub reopens after major refurbishment

Jessica Swain, from Barker Proudlove, said:

“It is incredible that we have so much demand for the pop up shop and we are thrilled to continue working with the Victoria Centre team to bring more businesses to Harrogate’s high street during the seasonal period.”

The new pop-up will open with Martha and Bea, a clothing and accessory business from Ilkley, on Monday.

Barker and Proudlove said there were still opportunities to hire the new unit this month and in December.

The Cambridge Street shop currently houses 2 Little Mice, with Jane Gales Designs arriving next week followed by Posh Tat on November 15.

Caption: New pop-up shop unit in Victoria Shopping Centre (left) the first tenant will be independent shop Martha and Bea (right)

Knaresborough business owners say the town must come together and mend the divide following a row over setting up a town BID.

The voting down of a BID earlier this month, by 80 to 73, caused acrimony between businesses and led some to walk out of a Chamber of Trade AGM.

The Stray Ferret asked businesses where the town goes from here. The common message was one of “coming together to have their voices heard”.

Elaine Grinter, who has owned the Art in the Mill gallery with her husband Andy for 14 years, said:

“As a town we generally all get along and want the best for Knaresborough. Chamber is going through a period of turnover. Hopefully that experience of BID and all the acrimony will be put to one side and we’ll see a positive energy coming through.

“My query going forward is how we will be represented in the future with council changes. I think anything that sees us work together is a good idea.”

The upcoming devolution agreement is at the forefront of business owners minds with some saying without a BID representing them, like in Harrogate and Ripon, they will need to shout louder to make sure the town isn’t forgotten.

Businesses also raved of the “booming” summer of tourism experienced this year and are keen to keep the momentum high with a Christmas market, trees and window displays.

Kelly Teggin, owner of Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty, was on the BID taskforce before it had to be disbanded and is hoping some of the projects BID had planned for can still go ahead. She said:

“I think it’s going to take a few months to settle down but we do need to draw a line under this divide or the town will suffer. The BID was going to bring some amazing things to the town because it was a big pot of money.

“I would still like to see some of the things we’d planned, this is time to come together for the town.”

A number of other businesses agreed the town needed time to heal but were confident the community would come back together for the good of the town.

Chamber attempts to build bridges

Peter Lacey, membership secretary of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, agreed the town must move on and has said the chamber is taking forward suggestions from this month’s AGM.

Networking events, joining up with other community groups and improving links between the town centre and Waterside are all to be looked at.

Today, the Chamber sent a letter apologising for previous comments made by former Chamber president Steve Teggin who hit out at “anti-BID activists” in an open letter. The current Chamber board said it had not signed off on the letter and “apologised for the hurt”.

Mr Lacey said:

“I hope when we come together in January we can talk positively and constructively about Knaresborough’s future.”

Read more:

• Council submits plans for new Knaresborough leisure centre
• Knaresborough businesses take over Christmas tree duties from chamber

John Ashton has just opened his business on the high street, Jovial Antiques. He said he was aware from other businesses there was a divide:

“I have heard some talk about people feeling upset at the outcome of the BID. I’m new to the area but I can tell there is a great community feel, businesses on the high street were straight into the shop to welcome me.

“I voted for a BID but of course we didn’t get it. The one thing we need is parking but visitors aren’t going to stop coming it’ll always be a busy town.”