Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Harrogate-based Berwins Solicitors has confirmed two new appointments to its senior team.
Natasha Guest and Oliver King have both been promoted to associate director.
The promotions come as the company looks to invest in the development and progression of staff within the firm.
Paul Berwin, managing director of Berwins, said:
“Outstanding people sit at the heart of every successful business and the ability to recognise and reward that excellence is key.
“These promotions recognise exactly that, and we are thrilled to see these two talented solicitors progress in their careers at Berwins.”
Natasha, who has 15 years experience as a litigation lawyer, said:
“This is an exciting time for the firm, with developments to both grow the business and further improve the way we deliver legal service for clients bearing fruit.
“I’m thrilled, through promotion to Associate Director, to be playing an active part in that.”
Harrogate company takes on 10-year business park lease
A Harrogate timber firm has taken up a 10-year lease on a local business park.
Ainscough Properties Ltd has announced that PM Dickson Timber will take over unit 8 on Follifoot Ridge Business Park.
The local timber business will relocate to the 10,304 sq ft unit, which was previously occupied by JCT-600 and used for vehicle preparation and storage.
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Government rejects expansion of Follifoot business park
The government has rejected an appeal for a business park in Follifoot to expand onto green belt land.
Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected a bid to build two new buildings at Follifoot Ridge Business Park, which would have created space for five commercial units.
The development would have taken place on a small strip of land alongside existing units (pictured above), which were previously allowed because they were classed as farm conversions.
The site owners said the new units would help to meet demand from businesses for more space. Following the council’s refusal, Uffa Kirkby appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
But Robert Walker, the planning inspector who oversaw the appeal, said the harm to the green belt was not outweighed by the economic benefits of the scheme.
In his decision notice, Mr Walker said:
“Based on the evidence before me and for the reasons outlined above, I cannot be satisfied that the overall benefits clearly outweigh the substantial weight given to the harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness.
“I have come to this conclusion having regard to the importance that the government places on making efficient use of land and building a strong, competitive economy.”
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- What is green belt land and how would Harrogate look without it?
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In June last year, the council’s planning committee said the proposal was “inappropriate” and harmful to the green belt.
However, ahead of the appeal, the developer argued that the scheme was not inappropriate and disagreed with the authority’s conclusion.
How the business park would look with the commercial units built on the green belt land.
The business park’s planning agent, ID Planning, said in a statement of case:
“The appellant disagrees with the reason for refusal based on the development being inappropriate as the site is not brownfield land.
“The appellant considers that the site is brownfield land but notwithstanding this considers the development comprises limited infilling.”
It added that the scheme had economic benefits and would not have an “impact on the openness of the green belt”.
Follifoot business park appeals expansion plan refusal“The development provides clear economic benefits set out in full in the planning statement and supported and acknowledged by the local planning authority which further support the appellants case for planning permission to be granted.”
The owners of a business park in Follifoot have appealed a decision to refuse permission to expand onto green belt land.
Harrogate Borough Council rejected a plan to build two new buildings on Follifoot Ridge Business Park, which would have created space for five commercial units.
The development would have sat next to existing units (pictured above) previously allowed because they were classed as farm conversions.
The owners of the park said the new units would help to meet demand from businesses for more space.
Kim Eastwood, a planning agent for the business park, told the council in June that the development would have little impact on the area because the green belt land is already surrounded by existing units.
However, the council’s planning committee rejected the proposal. In its reason for refusal, the authority said:
“The application site is not considered previously developed land. The proposal is therefore inappropriate development which, by definition, is harmful to the green belt and it would also result in some limited harm to the openness of the green belt.
“Although the proposal would bring economic benefits it is not considered that ‘very special circumstances’ exist that clearly outweigh the potential harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness and the impacts on openness.”
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In its statement of case, the business park’s planning agent, ID Planning, said the development was not “inappropriate” and that it disagreed with the council’s conclusion.
It said:
“The appellant disagrees with the reason for refusal based on the development being inappropriate as the site is not brownfield land.
“The appellant considers that the site is brownfield land but notwithstanding this considers the development comprises limited infilling.”
How the business park would look with the commercial units built on the green belt land.
It added that the scheme had economic benefits and would not have an “impact on the openness of the green belt”.
“The development provides clear economic benefits set out in full in the planning statement and supported and acknowledged by the local planning authority which further support the appellants case for planning permission to be granted.”
A government planning inspector will make a decision on the plan at a later date.
Follifoot Ridge Business Park has been refused permission to expand onto a plot of green belt land despite pleas that growing Harrogate district firms are in “desperate” need of more room.
The owners of the business park submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council last year claiming they should be granted “very special circumstances” to build on protected land in the centre of the site in order to meet pent up demand and boost the economy.
But the council’s planning committee last week rejected the plans, with members saying they could not make an exception to green belt policies.
Speaking during a meeting on Thursday, councillor Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader, said:
“If we aren’t ready to protect our green belt at this stage when there are no special circumstances then we are going to have it under threat.”
Green belts were introduced in 1955 to stop cities from sprawling and countryside being spoilt.
About 13% of England is now covered, and green belt areas are meant to be permanently protected and only reviewed in exceptional circumstances.
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The application for Follifoot Ridge Business Park was for two new buildings, which would have sat next to existing units previously allowed because they were classed as farm conversions.
Kim Eastwood, a planning agent for the business park, told the committee on Thursday that the development would have little impact on the area because the green belt land is already surrounded by these existing units.
This was an argument echoed by Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents the Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale ward. He said:
“This site is completely surrounded by other buildings. It has no impact on the open countryside and can only be seen from the side where trees are and from the access point.
“Normally I would support protecting open countryside but it doesn’t really make sense in this case.”
Mrs Eastwood also said the business park had received several inquiries from firms looking to move to the site and that companies already there were “desperate” to expand.
She said:
“These businesses have been based at the park from two to 14 years and they range widely, which is partly a testament to the success of the business park.
“This scheme presents an opportunity to provide additional commercial space, which is confirmed by the council’s economic development team to be very much in demand.”
The committee voted seven votes for and one against to reject the expansion plans.