A decision on whether to allow Harrogate Spring Water to expand its bottling plant in the Pinewoods has been delayed until the new year.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee was expected to consider the controversial proposals, which include felling trees, next month.

But after talks between concerned local groups and Danone, which owns Harrogate Spring Water, the issue has been put back to allow time for further discussions around the ecology of the proposal.

Trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood, which were planted by families in 2015, would be lost as part of Danone’s plans.

The groups involved in the discussions are not satisfied that the loss of trees and biodiversity will be compensated for.

The groups include Harrogate Civic Society, Harrogate and District Green Party, Pinewoods Conservation Group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and Duchy Residents’ Association.

Read more:

• Greens petition against Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plans

• Bottling plant plans for Pinewoods to be decided in December

Danone has had outline planning permission to expand to the west of its existing site since 2016.

A spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group told the Stray Ferret it hoped the extra time resulted in a plan that is “acceptable to all parties”.

The spokesperson said:

“We welcome the pause on this planning application and the offer from Harrogate Spring Water for further discussion on this important topic.

“There was a clear condition on the original planning application that there must be replacement land and trees to compensate for the ecological loss to the area.”

Nicky Cain, brand manager at Harrogate Spring Water, told the Stray Ferret the company planned to have discussions with local groups every two weeks until at least the new year.

She said:

“The delay gives us longer to consult with local stakeholders and discuss the issues around landscaping. All round it’s worked out well.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“These plans are yet to be submitted and when they are there will be a period of consultation to allow residents and interested parties the chance to comment on these proposals ahead of the matter being reported to our planning committee.

“The provisional date of 8 December is no longer achievable and a date for when the application will be presented to planning committee will be decided at a later date following the receipt of the plans and consultation period.”

The Harrogate and District Green Party has started a petition opposing Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to extend its bottling plant in the Pinewoods.

Harrogate Borough Council will next month consider an application by the water company to expand its existing site from 0.77 hectares to 0.94 hectares in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood.

Rebecca Maunder, a Green Party member and Pinewoods dog walker, said people were “shocked and dismayed” at the prospect of trees being felled.

Her petition to save Rotary Wood, which has so far generated more than 700 signatures since it began at the end of last week, says the proposal would destroy acres of woodland planted by children, damage wildlife and biodiversity and lead to the creation of more plastic bottles.

The petition adds:

“Harrogate district has 8% woodland cover compared to a national average of 12% and a European average of 36%.”

Read more:

• Littering in the Pinewoods ‘a continual problem’
• Bottling plant plans for Pinewoods to be decided in December

Harrogate Spring Water, which was bought last year by multinational firm Danone, has had outline planning permission since 2016 to expand to the west of its existing site.

The company is due to consult online with interested parties next week to discuss the proposal.

Nicky Cain, brand manager for Harrogate Spring Water, said it was “working towards presenting our application to the planning committee on December 8”. She added:

“The environmental aspects of our application remain top of our agenda and shall ensure any ecological impact is offset and provide commitment towards a local planting scheme.

“We shall continue to engage with stakeholders, both prior to planning and ahead of any future reserved matters scheme, providing opportunities to hear their views on planting and landscaping.”

The council has received more than 300 letters of objection since the plans were submitted, including from the Rotary Club of Harrogate, the Pinewoods Conservation Group and Harrogate Civic Society.

A report from the council’s arboricultural manager, Paul Casey, said the loss of 2.8 acres of woodland floor would remove the “green corridor” link between the north and south of the site. He said:

“There are no proposals put forward that would mitigate for the loss of this woodland.”

Members of Harrogate Green Party will walk up Otley Road at 6pm this evening handing out leaflets about Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans into the Pinewoods.

The water company, which was bought out last year by multinational firm Danone, has applied to Harrogate Borough Council to extend its bottling plant into Rotary Wood, removing 4 acres of public woodland.

The company already has outline planning permission from HBC to extend its bottling plant into the Pinewoods — but in 2019 they submitted fresh plans that are 40% larger than the original proposal.

The Green Party claims the company has broken a promise to consult with them on landscaping for the updated proposal, which they say does not mitigate for the loss of woodland, which was a condition of the outline planning permission.

As part of the plans, Harrogate Spring Water wants to plant some new trees to the left of the bottling plant.

Read more:

• Littering in the Pinewoods ‘a continual problem’

• Council ‘sets precedent’ by breaking listed building guidelines

Harrogate Green Party campaigner Rebecca Maunder said Harrogate Spring Water is “trying to fob the community off” with the new trees as a replacement for the “rich and diverse” woodland that will be lost.

Nicky Cain, brand manager at Harrogate Spring Water, told the Stray Ferret that the company still plans to consult with local groups but the process has been delayed due to coronavirus.

She said:

“We haven’t yet submitted the revised landscaping details and therefore haven’t yet reached the next phase of consultation. To reassure, there has been no short-cutting of the process or withdrawal of our offer of involvement; in fact quite the opposite – it has simply been a consequence of delays in the planning process due to the impact of COVID since our last meeting.

“The initial landscaping proposals were always subject to change following further ecological work and consultation. The results of the ecological study are still being worked upon, which shall in turn determine our obligations to be addressed as part of the landscaping detail. We hope this shall be ready by the end of September.

“At this stage – and as promised at our meetings with the Green Party, we shall continue to look forward to inviting the Green Party to consult and advise on the landscaping, to help ensure we best meet our responsibilities.”

The UK competition watchdog has given a French food firm the green light for its proposed takeover of Harrogate Water.

Danone said it planned to acquire a majority stake in Harrogate Water back in February but it was subject to approval.

The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has now cleared the anticipated takeover for an undisclosed fee.

Harrogate Water’s current majority shareholders, the Cain family, will remain as minority shareholders under the deal.

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Last year Harrogate Water recorded sales of more than £21 million. It will now join Danone’s other water brand Evian and Volvic.

Harrogate Spring Water is the original British water brand, with a spa history dating back to 1571. It was first bottled in 1740.

James Pearson, Managing Director, Danone Waters UK & Ireland, said:

“I am thrilled to welcome Harrogate Water to the Danone family. This move will expand our offering in the UK and help to meet growing demand in sparkling water and on-the-go consumption.”

James Cain OBE, Harrogate Water CEO, said:

“We are delighted to have found the right partner to take Harrogate Water forward on its journey, while respecting and celebrating our history and heritage. Danone and Harrogate Water have a shared ethos and approach to community and sustainability.”