Deadlock on Harrogate Christmas Market talks

Harrogate Borough Council and organisers of the Harrogate Christmas Market seem to have reached stalemate in talks to save the event.

Since news that the market would not be able to go ahead on Montpellier Hill, both the council and event organisers have called for each other to engage in talks.

A week has now gone and both seem to blame each other for the situation. The council has now said it is working with other event organisers after it received “a number of expressions of interest”.

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In another statement prompted by a wave of questions, a council spokesperson said:

“Significant concerns remain for the emergency services and, as the organiser isn’t willing to address these, we simply cannot grant a licence for this location.

“We’ve made this decision now, following numerous conversations over the years, to allow enough time for alternative options to be explored.

“Other locations have been suggested but these have been refused. If the organisers wish to continue these discussions then we advise they get in touch soon.

“We’ve had a number of expressions of interest and we’re working with event organisers to ensure alternative Christmas festivities take place.”

Brian Dunsby, who is the event organiser, told the Stray Ferret after reading the latest statement:

“We have not been given the chance to see or hear the emergency services response this year. The police were satisfied with what we proposed last year.

“We have asked for an appeal to review the outstanding issues. Also we have asked for a meeting to review the alternative locations.

“The statement makes it feels as if the council is trying to get rid of the team that has organised a successful market for the past eight years.

“We welcome other festivities but they should be complimentary to the Harrogate Christmas Market.”

Council to award business case contract for £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre

A potential £47 million redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre looks set to move another step closer with the awarding of a contract to assess the economic impacts of covid.

Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council’s director of economy, environment and housing, will hold a meeting next Tuesday to approve the contract ,which will also involve work on a full business case and planning updates for the proposed project.

It follows a competitive tender process during which the council only received a single bid for the business planning works.

If approved, a decision would be made by the council on the business case in March 2022. The authority said this would fit with the timescales of the reorganisation of local councils in North Yorkshire.

The borough council will no longer exist by May 2023 as part of government plans to scrap the county council and seven districts and replace them with one super authority. It means it will no longer have control over the HCC.

The value of the contract and the bidder is not yet known – and will only be made public if it is agreed by both parties.

In a report to Tuesday’s meeting, Rebecca Micallef, economy and transport officer at the council, said the bidder’s proposals were “excellent overall” and that the business planning works would help form a final decision over whether the redevelopment should go ahead.

She said:

“The work will look in detail at the wider economic impact of the  redevelopment proposals on Harrogate, the district and beyond and help us to better understand the implications of covid on the industry and therefore the case for investment.

“Harrogate Convention Centre is a vital economic driver for the Harrogate district and wider region, providing a unique offer for the conference and exhibition market.

“The redevelopment of the venue offers the potential to deliver an exciting and major transformational project and is critical to the covid economic recovery plan for Harrogate district.”

After warning the 40-year-old convention centre may not survive without investment, the council awarded design firm Arcadis a £1 million contract earlier this year to produce design proposals.

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Can the events industry bounce back?

The venue was struggling financially before the pandemic hit and it was then used as an NHS Nightingale hospital for almost a year.

The 500-bed hospital did not treat a single coronavirus patient and after being dismantled in spring, several conference events have now made a return.

It was estimated before the pandemic that the convention centre attracted more than 150,000 visitors a year with an economic impact of £35 million. However, there are now questions over if the events industry can bounce back to pre-covid levels and what risks this could mean for the £47 million redevelopment.

There is also the question of how the project would be funded, with council leader Richard Cooper previously saying he hoped the government would provide cash to repay the “goodwill” of the convention centre’s use as the Nightingale hospital.

Economy and transport officer Rebecca Micallef also said in her report to Tuesday’s meeting that the development of the business case would play a “crucial part” in supporting bids for external funding.

Plans to rebuild the venue could involve three exhibition halls being demolished to make way for a new 5,000 sq m hall and a refurbished auditorium.

Around £20 million would be needed to complete a first phase of redevelopment, with another phase later.

If this is not done, a report previously estimated the venue’s maintenance costs over 20 years could reach £19 million.

Bilton garages could be demolished for social housing

Harrogate Borough Council is proposing to demolish seven garages in Bilton to make way for social housing.

The garages are on Woodfield Close, close to the iron bridge in the Harrogate suburb.

A report presented this week to the council’s cabinet member for housing, the Conservative councillor Mike Chambers says two one-bedroom homes could be built on the site, and more homes might be possible subject to planning permission.

The report says there are 24 garages but only 12 are occupied. Of these, four are used by local residents. It proposes demolishing seven to allow for the development.

The council also plans to build a two-bed property for social rented housing on grassland it maintains on the corner of Poplar Crescent and Poplar Grove.

According to the report, the grassland “is not used for any particular purpose and has no amenity value”.

If the council goes ahead with the plan, it would apply for funding from the government’s £433 million Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, which aims to get up to 6,000 rough sleepers into longer term accommodation.

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The council owns and rents out garages across the district and has increasingly looked at the pockets of land as a way to build social housing.

There are currently over 1,700 people on the council’s social housing waiting list.

Last month, the council approved a plan from its own housing team to build three council houses at the sites of two disused garage blocks in Ripon.

Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing board

The housebuilders behind a 36-home development in Goldsborough have been sent back to the drawing board for the second time this year after claims residents’ concerns have been “ignored”.

Stonebridge Homes has outline permission for the Station Road scheme but has now twice failed to get a final go-ahead after Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee voted for another deferral on Tuesday.

This comes after a meeting in March ended in the same result.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Andrew Paraskos, the Conservative councillor for Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, said residents have accepted the development will eventually go-ahead but concerns over the density and design of the homes remained.

Photograph: Stonebridge Homes

These revised plans included two two-storey homes being reduced to bungalows, as well as more tree planting.

Cllr Paraskos said:

“Everybody realises that this site will be developed but no discussion has been made between the developers, the village and ourselves. We were asked for a meeting but due to holidays and other commitments we were unable to attend.

“The materials are still the same, the layout is the same, everything else is exactly as it was before.

“The revised application was also sent in before any meetings were tried to be arranged which really defeats the object.”

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Jacqueline Dowker, chair of Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council, also spoke in objection to the plans and described the changes as “minimal and superficial”.

No final decision for three years

In response, Mark Johnson, an agent for Stonebridge Homes, said the developers have “always been available” for discussions with residents and that not having a final decision after first submitting the plans in 2018 was now becoming an “issue”.

Mr Johnson was also questioned by councillor Victoria Oldham if he thought residents’ concerns should be “ignored” and he said:

“No I don’t – what you have to understand though is that when the architects approach every scheme they are looking at the character of the area.

“When the site was allocated for a particular number of dwellings, those issues were already considered.

“On that basis, the scheme has been found acceptable by the council’s design officer twice.”

The plans – which include a mix of one to five-bedroom properties – received 37 objections from residents.

It was agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that residents and councillors would meet with the developers before revised plans are brought back before the committee later this summer.

Persimmon Homes ‘assessing options’ after 217 homes in Harrogate refused

Persimmon Homes has said it is considering its options after being refused a controversial 217-home development in Harrogate.

The developer had lodged plans for the new homes on land off Kingsley Drive.

However, councillors rejected the plan on Tuesday after Harrogate Borough Council officials said the development was “not considered acceptable”.

The land is earmarked for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines planned development in the district until 2035.

The Stray Ferret asked the developer what it intended to do with the proposal following the rejection.

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes Yorkshire said the business was currently assessing all options but that it was too early to confirm anything yet.

Residents on Kingsley Drive said that they will keep an eye on the proposal after another developer, Richborough Estates, successfully appealed a decision to refuse 149-homes on nearby Kingsley Road in March.

Requests for delay

At the meeting on Tuesday, Paul Butler, agent for the developer, requested that councillors defer the application so that the council and Persimmon could work on the design and layout of the scheme.

Mr Butler said: 

“I want to make it absolutely clear that we very much want to work with the council and local residents.

“The site is allocated for housing and those further proposals and applications will always be forthcoming. The key from here is ensuring those details are right.

“When it comes to these details – specifically design, layout, highways and drainage matters – we have got the message loud and clear; we need to make improvements.”

However, council officers said the scheme had gone through “a number of versions” and it was still not acceptable.

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Concern was also raised that the development would result in more homes on the site than allocated in the Local Plan, if it had been approved.

Nigel Middlemass, the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Kingsley, told the committee that the development had not been thought through.

Councillors voted to unanimously refuse the application.

Residents on Kingsley Drive who objected to a 217 home plan next to their homes.

Residents on Kingsley Drive who objected to a 217 home plan in the area.

Residents remain vigilant

The Kingsley ward area will eventually see more than 600 homes built, including developments at Granby Farm and 149 homes on Kingsley Road.

The number of developments has raised concern among residents that the area is overdeveloped and that the road infrastructure cannot cope with construction traffic.

However, following the refusal of Persimmon’s plan, locals said it was a “good result” for the Kingsley ward.

But, John Hansard, who lives in the area, told the Stray Ferret that residents would “remain vigilant” in case the proposal returns.

He said:

“It was a good result and I am pleased about that. It does give us a bit of breathing space.

“My only concern is that they [the developer] will appeal. I think that we need to look into that.

“I think we need to remain vigilant.”

Eviction notice served on Knaresborough travellers

Harrogate Borough Council has begun moves to evict travellers from a field at Hay-A-Park Lane in Knaresborough.

Numerous caravans have pitched up at the site near the rugby field in the last week. Many locals think they will move on to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria this weekend.

But a council spokesman said today the site was not designated for use by travellers and Gypsies. He said:

“We have visited the illegal encampment and served a notice to vacate.”

Christine Willoughby, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Knaresborough Eastfield, said:

“We do suffer from these illegal encampments in Knaresborough. They stay long enough to make a mess and make residents unhappy. I just wish they would be respectful of local residents.

“I’ve had a few residents get in touch about the travellers. So far they seem to be tidy and maybe they will leave peacefully but in previous years they’ve left a mess.”

The travellers have polarised opinion on social media, with some local residents saying people should “leave them be” and others expressing concerns about tidiness.

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The council’s website says:

“There are two official Gypsy and traveller sites in the Harrogate district, at Bickerton and Thistle Hill, both owned and managed by North Yorkshire County Council.

“Outside of these sites, if Gypsies and travellers set up a camp on council-owned land, and if they’re causing problems, they’ll be moved on as soon as is possible and reasonable. We consider each case on its merits.

“If they’re on private land, it’s usually the landowner’s responsibility.”

 

Bid to build 170 homes in Knaresborough refused again

Plans for a major housing development behind a Knaresborough school have been refused for the second time in two years because of concerns about the “poor” layout and design.

Proposals for 218 homes near Meadowside Academy were first rejected by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in October 2019.

Applicant Geoffrey Holland then scaled back house numbers for the scheme to 170 in his second push for approval. However, these latest plans were thrown out again by councillors at a meeting on Tuesday.

Recommending refusal, council planning officer Kate Broadbank said the Water Lane scheme had a number of “fundamental” issues.

She said: 

“One of the site allocation requirements is the provision of a circular recreation route – and this has been provided around the edge of the site.

“However, it is considered to be unsatisfactory, as it is a narrow path between the site boundary and side elevations of dwellings, meaning it is not very well overlooked and would not provide a safe, attractive route.

“The same situation occurred around the open space and children’s play area where houses backed onto this.

“The applicant has tried to overcome this by turning some houses around to face onto the path and play area, however, this has led to an issue with rear gardens now backing onto the streets.

“On the whole, the scheme is considered to lack character or a sense of place.”

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At Tuesday’s meeting, an agent for Mr Holland urged the committee to not vote for refusal but instead defer a decision on the plans.

This, again, was rejected by councillors.

The agent said: 

“If the layout was fundamentally flawed, we should have been told that six months ago, not last week.

“I urge the committee, bearing in mind that most of the issues have been resolved, that the item be deferred for the final layout negotiations to take place.”

80 objections

Ms Broadbank responded to say she did not believe a deferral would bring about major improvements to the key parts of the scheme, particularly the layout.

She said: 

“My view is that there would not be any fundamental change to the layout if it was to be deferred. We have been in negotiations for quite a long time now and my main concerns were expressed to the applicant last year.

“The revisions I have received to date have not overcome the fundamental issues with the layout which I have to say is probably driven by the number of units.”

The site is allocated for more than 148 homes in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-2035, which outlines development in the district until 2035. This means development will happen once councillors are satisfied with detailed plans.

The latest proposals included a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two, three and four-bedroom houses.

A total of 81 of these properties would have been classed as affordable.

More than 80 residents had lodged objections against the plans, which did not receive a single letter of support.

Kingsley Drive residents to ‘remain vigilant’ despite 217-home rejection

Residents on Harrogate’s Kingsley Drive say they will “remain vigilant” despite a controversial 217 home plan in the area being rejected.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to refuse the proposal from Persimmon Homes yesterday after council officers said it was unacceptable.

The council received 388 objections to the scheme and no responses in favour.

The Kingsley ward area will eventually see more than 600 homes built, including developments at Granby Farm and 149 homes on Kingsley Road.

However, despite the refusal, residents have said they intend to keep an eye on the proposal in case it is appealed.

The proposed layout of the homes on Kingsley Drive as submitted by developer Persimmon Homes.

The proposed layout of the homes on Kingsley Drive as submitted by developer Persimmon Homes.

John Hansard, who lives in the area, told the Stray Ferret that the refusal was a “good result” but added that locals were well aware that the plan could come back.

Mr Hansard pointed to the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to approve 149 homes on Kingsley Road back in March, despite the borough council refusing the plan, as an example.

He said:

“It was a good result and I am pleased about that. It does give us a bit of breathing space.

“My only concern is that they [the developer] will appeal. I think that we need to look into that.

“I think we need to remain vigilant.”

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Meanwhile, Catherine Maguire, another resident on Kingsley Drive, said the result left her with mixed emotions.

She said the news was “positive” for the area, but added that there was further to go in opposing the scheme.

Ms Maguire said:

“It’s good to have some positive news, but I have mixed emotions and there is a long road ahead.

“You never know what a planning inspector will say. But I feel more confident this time, because there are too many issues with the site.”

Chris Watt, who spoke on behalf of Kingsley Ward Action Group at the meeting, said he was delighted that councillors sided with residents.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I’m delighted that councillors listened to local residents and rejected this terrible proposal.

“The area is already suffering from heavy construction traffic from early in the morning and another massive housing project in an already over developed area would only make matters worse and add to congestion and pollution.

“It was telling how scathing councillors were about the proposals and it shows the power that local people can have.”

Officer and councillor concerns

Ahead of refusing the proposal, council officers said the application was “not considered acceptable”.

Although the site is allocated for housing under the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines development in the district until 2035, officers had concerns about overdevelopment and inadequate information on surface water drainage and noise.

Authority officials also said in a report that the number of homes on the site was above the 173 allocated in the local plan.

The application, when combined with the nearby Stonebridge Homes development, would have seen a total of 313 houses built if it had been approved.

Meanwhile, Cllr Nigel Middlemass, ward member for Kinglsey, told the council’s planning committee that the development had not been thought through.

He said:

“This is the biggest and worst thought out [housing site] in the area. It is far too intensive and well above the numbers in the local plan.”

Paul Butler, agent for Persimmon Homes, requested that the committee defer the application so that the council and developer could work on the design and layout of the scheme.

However, the council’s planning committee voted unanimously to reject the scheme.

Council rejects controversial plan for 217 homes on Kingsley Drive

Harrogate borough councillors have rejected a controversial scheme for 217 homes on Kingsley Drive.

The council received 388 objections to the scheme and no responses in favour.

The current application, submitted by Persimmon Homes, has seen the number of properties planned on the site reduced from 244 to 217.

But Harrogate Borough Council planning officers said the proposal “was not considered acceptable”.

The Kingsley ward area will eventually see more than 600 homes built, including developments at Granby Farm and 149 homes on Kingsley Road.

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However, residents have raised a number of concerns over Persimmon’s plan, including overdevelopment and traffic congestion.

Chris Watt, speaking on behalf of Kingsley Ward Action Group, said the traffic caused by the homes would make congestion worse in the area.

He said:

“As we have already seen from current developments taking place, our local roads are not designed for construction traffic.

“Congestion on Knaresborough Road is already bad and this would only be made worse by the number of houses proposed for this site.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Nigel Middlemass, ward member for Kinglsey, told the committee that the development had not been thought through.

He said:

“This is the biggest and worst thought out [housing site] in the area. It is far too intensive and well above the numbers in the local plan.”

Paul Butler, agent for Persimmon Homes, requested that the committee defer the application so that the council and developer could work on the design and layout of the scheme.

However, the council’s planning committee voted unanimously to reject the scheme.

First Lidl supermarket in Harrogate given go-ahead

Plans have been approved for the first Lidl supermarket to open in Harrogate.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead for the new store on Knaresborough Road this afternoon.

The new supermarket will be built on the former Lookers car dealership site.

The multi-million pound proposal includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces and cycle parking at the front of the store.

Jonathan Harper, agent for Lidl, told councillors at a meeting today:

“There are a number of clear tangible benefits to this scheme.

“The development represents a significant investment by Lidl and will create 40 new jobs which carry clear importance at this time.”

Cllr Robert Windass, member for Boroughbridge, said:

“This site is derelict.

“I think it will be an asset to that part of Harrogate.”

Cllr Philip Broadbank, member for Harrogate Starbeck, said the development would be “welcomed and well used”, but added that delivery times and highways needed to be looked at when setting conditions.

He requested that a condition was set to reduce the delivery time hours from 11pm to 10pm.

However, Cllr Broadbank added:

“The site is generally acceptable and it does have quite a lot of support [from residents].”

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The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

Lidl has also submitted plans for a new store in Ripon.

The German supermarket chain has lodged proposals for a store at St Michael’s Retail Park in the city.

Earlier this month, the application won the support of Ripon City Council.