This week has been seismic for local government and politics in Harrogate as the council learned its fate over the government’s devolution agenda.

Robert Jenrick, secretary of state for local government, confirmed that the borough council will be abolished and replaced with one authority for the entire of North Yorkshire.

It’s the first time since 1974 that such a shake-up of the system of local authorities and governance in North Yorkshire has been made.

The decision has left politicians and council officials either elated or disappointed – all though wondering what is to come.

It has also raised more questions than answers. For instance, what happens to the borough council’s potential £46.8 million investment in Harrogate Convention Centre?

Another is the future for staff at the borough council and where the decision leaves them and their jobs.

Read more:

• What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
• Harrogate Parish Council could be created after devolution shake-up
• Government chooses single super authority to replace Harrogate council

Much of those who were on the frontline of the devolution debate made their feelings clear this week. 

Here’s what they thought of the landmark decision.

“A dog’s breakfast”

As the saying goes, history is written by the winners.

But that did not stop those in the east/west camp making their feelings known.

Perhaps the most vocal was Cllr Steve Siddons, Labour leader of Scarborough Borough Council, who described the single unitary authority as a “dog’s breakfast”.

He went onto say:

“I am extremely disappointed with this announcement.

“The government appears to have ignored their own criteria and advice and have approved a single countywide unitary that is bigger than any other in the country and far bigger than their recommended maximum size.

“It also leaves York as a unitary much smaller than the government’s minimum size recommendation.

“My prediction is that York will inevitably be swallowed up by this mega county. A dog’s breakfast springs to mind.”

Cllr Steve Siddons, leader of Scarborough Borough Council.

Conservative Craven District Council leader, Cllr Richard Foster, was equally as disappointed.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he raised concerns over the future of staff and how councils will now respond to the covid pandemic.

He said:

“The single council model was always the front runner but my biggest annoyance is that this has been a desktop exercise by the government who have not been to North Yorkshire to see the area on the ground.

“To decide the local government future for over 500,000 people in that way is disappointing to say the least.

“We have also always said this is the wrong time to be doing this. We have now got to deal with reorganisation whilst also somehow finding time to deal with our response to the pandemic.

“This will take up a huge amount of officer time when we should be moving forward and getting Craven’s recovery going.”

On the winning side of things, Cllr Carl Les, Conservative leader of the county council, appeared magnanimous and called for councils to work together.

Perhaps the most relieved was Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat leader of City of York Council, whose authority would have been swallowed up by the east/west model.

He described the decision as a “huge vote of confidence for York”.

Protecting jobs

Aside from the changes in services, political make-up and council capital projects, the landmark decision strikes at the heart of peoples’ jobs.

Thousands of council staff face uncertainty over where their futures will be in two years time.

Among those to react to the announcement were union officials.

Read more:

• Harrogate council CEO: Authority is committed to projects despite devolution
• The key questions facing Harrogate after devolution

Wendy Nichols, secretary of the Unison North Yorkshire branch, said the key focus now should be on protecting jobs and minimising disruption to public services.

She added:

“Council workers have been on the frontline in the response to covid – delivering essential public services in the toughest of conditions. Reorganisation was the last thing that they needed.

“But the key now is to see that jobs are protected and vital services maintained.

“We have clear tests that we will judge the reorganisation by. We hope that it meets them.”

Unanswered questions

While it is clear that North Yorkshire will have a new council by April 2023 and the current two-tier local authority system will no longer exist, questions are left over current projects.

Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, said in a statement on Friday that the authority was committed to its projects, such as the overhaul of leisure services.

Major assets, such as Harrogate Convention Centre, will fall under the new authority’s control. One of Harrogate Borough Council’s last acts could be to spend £46.8 million on refurbishing the convention centre.

Visit Harrogate and the future of district’s new office building at Knapping Mount still need to be addressed.

Mr Sampson declined an interview with the Stray Ferret in which he would been asked far more questions – in the coming months the call for answers to those questions will only get louder.

The chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council has said the authority will press ahead with its investment projects despite the government deciding to abolish the authority in two years time.

The decision is a seismic change for the district and raised key questions over the borough council and the future of its projects, in particular the potential £46.8 million renovation of the town’s convention centre.

On Wednesday, Robert Jenrick MP, secretary of state for local government, announced that a single super council will be set up in North Yorkshire by April 2023 – which means the borough, county and other district councils will all be scrapped.

The Stray Ferret requested an interview with Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, on the implications of the announcement on the authority, but did not receive a response. The council later said he was unavailable.

However, Mr Sampson has now said the council is committed to delivering on a number of its projects.

In response to the decision, he said:

“Understandably, we are disappointed that government has chosen to form one council across the whole of North Yorkshire. We believed the East/West proposal would have been the strongest possible option for levelling-up, and driving future recovery and growth in York and North Yorkshire.

“Despite this outcome, Harrogate Borough Council will continue to exist until 2023 and we have no plans to sit back until this time. We have a number of exciting and ambitious projects that have either started or are due to start in the coming months.

“Our multi-million investment project at Ripon Leisure Centre is taking shape and further investment at the Hydro in Harrogate and a new leisure centre in Knaresborough are progressing well, for example.

“We are also committed to supporting our economy post covid and will be looking at all projects, before the new unitary authority comes into operation, to explore what investment projects should or could be delivered.”

Read more:

• What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
• The key questions facing Harrogate after devolution

But, Mr Sampson did not address the future of HBC’s Knapping Mount headquarters, the investment in the convention centre or the destination management organisation.

Previously, the council has said that no final decision will be made on the refurbishment of the convention centre until 2022 and that reorganisation and the investment “are two entirely separate things”.

Mr Sampson told the Stray Ferret in March that the reorganisation would not affect the use of the civic centre.

A plan to open a new Sainsbury’s store in Harrogate town centre has been approved.

The Sainsbury’s Local store is set to open in the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street, which has been empty since 2017.

The disused unit is set to be divided into three retail spaces, which will enable Sainsbury’s to set up in the largest outlet.

The store is also expected to bring 25 new jobs to the area.

Harrogate Borough Council has now given the go-ahead for the proposal.

Skipton Building Society has also submitted plans to lease the central unit and refurbish it to include open plan public space, office spaces, toilets and staff space.

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.

Read more:

• Skipton Building Society plans new office in Harrogate
• Bid to open Lidl in Ripon wins support of city council

The new store will be just a minute’s walk from the Tesco Express on Cambridge Road.

Patrick Dunne, property director at the supermarket chain, said in March it hoped to open by late summer.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said:

“Naturally we are very pleased with Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to approve our planning application.

Our new Local will represent an opportunity bring new jobs and to offer high quality products at greater convenience for residents and visitors in Harrogate town centre.”

The announcement that Harrogate Borough Council will be scrapped and replaced by a super council for North Yorkshire raises many key questions.

Major assets, such as Harrogate Convention Centre, will fall under new control. One of Harrogate Borough Council’s last acts could be to spend £46.8 million on refurbishing the convention centre.

More than a thousand council employees face the uncertainty of being transferred or made redundant when the new super council comes into existence.

The Stray Ferret requested an interview with Wallace Sampson to ask how the council is preparing for such seismic changes, and what could be done to prevent council taxpayers funding a zombie council beset by staff departures and looming extinction. However, we did not receive a response.

Here are some of the key issues that need to be addressed.

Will the £46.8 million refurbishment of Harrogate Convention Centre proceed?

Last year, the borough council announced a major investment into the HCC – among the highest in recent memory.

A spend of £46.8 million was outlined by the council last year to renovate the building.

Councillors backed a feasibility study into the plans ahead of a final decision on the investment.

But the authority told the Stray Ferret earlier this month a vote on the investment would not be made until 2022 when detailed designs and costs can be presented to councillors.

The move raises the question over how the the announcement of the reorganisation would affect the planned refurbishment of the HCC.

The borough council told the Stray Ferret earlier this month that reorganisation of local government and investment “are two entirely separate things”.

Visit Harrogate

The reorganisation could also have implications for the council’s new Destination Management Organisation.

The new body created by the council will bring together Visit Harrogate, Harrogate Convention Centre’s marketing team, and the district’s tourist information centres.

It has just spent £165,000 on a new website for Visit Harrogate which covers the district.

It is unclear how this will fit into the new unitary authority and its tourism plans.

Read more:

• What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
• Harrogate Parish Council could be created after devolution shake-up
• Government chooses single super authority to replace Harrogate council

Who will run the swimming pools and leisure centres?

On August 1, the borough council will hand over the running of leisure facilities to an arms-length local authority controlled company.

Brimhams Active will run the Harrogate Hydro, Ripon Leisure Centre and Knaresborough, Starbeck and Nidderdale pools.

The company will already be in charge of the facilities before the unitary exists which raises questions over how it will operate under the new structure.

What will happen to Harrogate Borough Council’s offices?

The future of the newly built council offices on Knapping Mount in Harrogate is also in doubt.

Given that the borough council will no longer exist, it raises questions over how the building, which the Stray Ferret revealed last year had a total cost of £17 million, will be used.

The authority disputed the figure, saying the building cost £11.5 million but it did not include in its figures the value of the land on which it was built.

Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, told the Stray Ferret in March that the reorganisation would not affect the use of the civic centre.

He said:

“My own view is I don’t think local government reorganisation will affect the use of the civic centre. There will still be a requirement for office space within Harrogate to support whatever happens through local government reorganisation.

“Harrogate has modern purpose-built offices with flexible use built with very high energy-efficient standards. It puts us in a really good position with local government reorganisation to ensure there are offices devoted to service delivery within Harrogate.”

Beyond this there are wider questions as to how the district council will operate in the transitional year, how it will retain staff and management during this period, whilst continuing to provide services.

These are critical issues that the public will want answers to in the coming months.

A single super council for the entire of North Yorkshire will “make things simpler”, says the leader of the county council.

The government announced yesterday that North Yorkshire’s two-tier council system will be scrapped and replaced by one unitary authority in what will be the biggest shake-up of local government since the 1970s.

It means Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the remaining districts will no longer exist. However, the City of York Council will remain in place.

Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, and Cllr Steve Siddons, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, have both said they were disappointed with the announcement.

The plan put forward by the district authorities they represent would have seen the county split in half, with one council in the east and another in the west.

Cllr Carl Les, Conservative leader of North Yorkshire County Council, whose single super council mode prevailed, said last night:

“We have worked incredibly hard to get to this point because we believe it’s the right thing for North Yorkshire, its people and businesses. Today’s decision allows us to strengthen the services we know matter most to people and ensure they are fit for the future.

“A single council will also make things simpler for everyone – just one number to call, one website, one customer service team and one accountable body delivering all local government services here.

“Support for businesses, high streets and market towns can be aligned more closely with investment in infrastructure like highways and broadband. Planning, housing and health services will be able to provide more joined up support for families and communities.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat leader of City of York Council, welcomed the new that the authority will not be affected by the shake-up.

Read more:

• What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
• Harrogate council leader: ‘county council let the borough down’
• Government chooses single super authority to replace Harrogate council

Councillors in York voted in October 2020 to reject the notion of a merger and to support City of York’s continuation as a council in its own right.

Cllr Aspden said:

“The government’s decision is a huge vote of confidence for York, its council and recognition of the progress we have achieved with our local partners, businesses and communities.

“From the very beginning of this process, residents and organisations from across the city strongly made the case for York, stressing the need for continuity to support our recovery.”

The move was also welcomed by Unison North Yorkshire, which represents 5,500 council workers across the county.

Wendy Nichols, secretary of the North Yorkshire branch, said district authority employees would be able to transfer to the new authority on current terms and conditions under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE).

She said:

“I hope this announcement is welcomed by all members as really positive and that the spirit of professionalism continues as teams across councils work together to deliver a stronger future for everyone’s benefit.”

A single super council looks set to replace Harrogate Borough Council in the biggest shake-up in local government in North Yorkshire since the 1970s.

Government ministers have opted for one unitary council for North Yorkshire, which will see the remaining districts and county council scrapped.

The decision will come as bitter disappointment for those who backed an east//west model for the county, which was proposed by the district councils. Local MP Andrew Jones and Unison Harrogate branch were among those who supported the model.

It follows two models being submitted to government for consideration.

Read more:

• What will one super council for North Yorkshire look like?
• Harrogate Parish Council could be created after devolution shake-up

Both North Yorkshire County Council and the districts submitted opposing plans. The district authorities’ plan would have seen the county split in half with one council in the east and another in the west.

However, the government announced today that its preferred option is a sole council for the entire county with City of York remaining in place.

Ministers said the move followed consultation with residents, businesses and local authorities.

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Local Government, said he had asked local councils to now work “collaboratively and constructively” to establish the new unitary council.

Mr Jenrick said:

“Residents, businesses and service providers in North Yorkshire have had their say on what will work best for their area and now councils can start planning for the next step.

“I have always been clear that any restructuring of local government must be locally-led and will not involve top-down solutions from government.

“These plans will help strengthen local leaderships and ensure residents of North Yorkshire are receiving the consistent high-quality services they deserve.”

In order to establish the council, a draft structural order will be laid before parliament at the turn of the year.

The government said this will include transitional arrangements, including for elections in May 2022 to the new authority.

Currently, North Yorkshire County Council is responsible for services including social care, education and highways, while district and borough councils look after the likes of planning, licensing and bin collections.

Under the unitary authority, those services will be transferred over to the new council.

Taxpayers in Harrogate look set to fund services from a single council in North Yorkshire.

The government has opted to pick North Yorkshire County Council’s model to replace the two-tier system.

It means that the the new unitary authority will take over services from all of the county’s seven district councils, such as bin collections, council tax and planning.

The City of York Council remains in place. The government has set an aim of getting the new authority up and running by May 2023.

Finances

As part of its devolution bid, North Yorkshire County Council officials commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to help spearhead its submission.

The consultants report showed the new authority will cover 618,000 people and could cost up to £38 million to set up.

However, the authority also predicts that the reorganisation under a single council could benefit the county by between £51 million and £68 million.

For taxpayers, it will mean a change in their annual council tax bill.

Read more:

• Government chooses single super authority to replace Harrogate council
• Harrogate Parish Council could be created after devolution shake-up

Rather than paying a precept to both the county council and a district authority, the bill will show one council which rates will be paid to.

Elections and councillors

The government already postponed elections for the county council for this year in light of the ongoing reorganisation discussions.

In their submission, county council officials said the current number of 301 councillors was “time consuming”, “resource intensive” and made decision making difficult.

The council’s report has also planned for elections as early as May 2022. An order will go before parliament in the new year with transitional arrangements, including elections for next year.

As a result, it has proposed to work with the Boundary Commission to review new ward boundaries to elect to the council.

NYCC said current boundaries suggest there would be 144 councillors.

The county council has also proposed six area committees, each with around 15 councillors, in line with the constituencies of North Yorkshire’s MPs.

A town council for Harrogate

One of the main aspects of the county council’s plan which has been pushed by both senior councillors and officers alike is the concept of “double devolution”.

The move would offer parish and town councils the chance to take on extra responsibilities, such as running of community centres.

Currently, Scarborough and Harrogate are the only areas without a town or parish council in the county.

County council officials said they would support those areas to set up authorities, if it was what local people wanted.

Assets

As the principle authority for the county, the council will also take on ownership of key assets.

Among these will be the Harrogate Convention Centre, which is currently owned and run by Harrogate Borough Council.

Leisure facilities, which are currently due to be handed over to Brimham’s Active in Harrogate, would also come under the remit of the authority.

However, Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, has suggested that some powers to run local assets could be handed back to local areas, if they request it.

A Harrogate woman has sent an appeal to Harrogate Borough Council after a parking warden fined her for parking in a disc zone area.

Laura Vance took her son to King James’s School in Knaresborough for an induction session yesterday morning.

She had left her disc, which entitled her to park for free for two hours, in another car so wrote a note.

The note, which she left on her dashboard, stated that Laura had parked at 9am.

She headed to a shop to pick up another disc after dropping off her son but when she returned to her vehicle 40 minutes later she found she had received a penalty notice, which gave her 14 days to pay a reduced fine of £25 or £50 if she leaves it for up to 28 days.

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Ms Vance, who is waiting for a reply from the council, told the Stray Ferret:

“I thought that because I left a note that would be enough for the parking warden. I do think it is quite unfair.

“What is the difference between my note and the disc? Both just say what time it was when you parked up.

“It is just a bit rubbish. It’s not going to put me off going to Knaresborough because I love it there but I can see how it might put some people off.”

Disc parking is common in the Harrogate district. The discs are free and entitle users to park for free for a period of time stated on the street.

The Stray Ferret contacted Harrogate Borough Council for a response. A council spokeswoman said:

“If a customer believes that have received a penalty charge notice in error then they should follow the appeal process provided.”

Knaresborough Scriven Park residents will head to the polls next Thursday to elect a new borough and town councillor.

There are four candidates contesting for the seat on Harrogate Borough Council which has been left vacant following the resignation of Conservative councillor Samantha Mearns, who last month announced she had stepped down due to family reasons.

Those in the running for the July 29 election include Conservative candidate Jaqui Renton, a former landlady of The Union pub in Knaresborough, as well as Sharon-Theresa Calvert, who has been nominated as the Labour candidate after previously standing for a Knaresborough seat on North Yorkshire County Council in 2017.

Hannah Gostlow, a serving Knaresborough town councillor, will stand for the Liberal Democrats and is collaborating with the local Green Party, which has not made a nomination.

The final name on the list is Harvey Alexander, a UKIP member who earlier this year stood as an independent to become a county councillor for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division in Harrogate.

Read more:

• Harrogate councillor resigns for “family reasons”
• Knaresborough set for by-election after Conservative councillor resigns
• Green Party stands down in Knaresborough by-election to support Lib Dems

The Local Democracy Reporting Service quizzed each candidate on their priorities and asked why they think they should get your vote.

Here is what they said.

Jacqui Renton, Conservative candidate for Knaresborough Scriven Park.

Jaqui Renton, Conservative

This election is about ensuring we have an active, local voice speaking up for local people on our councils. I am standing because I want to take my positive community action to that next level.

I was raised in Knaresborough. I went to Aspin Park Primary School and King James School. My children went to those schools too.

Living here, I use the same shops, roads and services that you do; you can be assured that I want to get the best for our community because it is my community too.

I have a record of positive action. I’ve worked with Andrew Jones MP and Knaresborough councillors to make a difference to our wonderful town, whether it’s tackling speeding on Boroughbridge Road, acting on anti-social behaviour on the Sovereign Fold estate, getting damaged street nameplates replaced and streetlights repaired or making sure residents have their say on housing.

I am putting a positive message out there about what I can do for our community; I am not pulling my opponents down.

My top priority is to keep working for more investment in Knaresborough.

We’re getting huge investment in terms of the new leisure centre, the renovation of long empty high street shops, rail improvements, refurbishment at Conyngham Hall, in our thriving market and new tree-planting for our environment.

I think that’s great, but I also think it’s only the start.

Ours is a fantastic town that we should be rightly proud of – but that’s not to say it can’t be even better.

Hannah Gostlow, Liberal Democrat candidate for Knaresborough Scriven Park.

Hannah Gostlow, Liberal Democrat

I am committed to Knaresborough and have been a dedicated Knaresborough town councillor for the last six years.

If elected, I would use my experience to get off to a flying start.

I feel one of the biggest assets to our town is our fantastic community, community groups and events. I will continue to work hard to support them, as they support us to live healthier and happier lives.

My priorities would be to make sure that the views of our town’s residents are being properly heard and ensure that Harrogate Borough Council engages in a serious and constructive way with all of us, about the important decisions that affect our community.

I will do everything in my power to fight the government’s proposal to loosen planning rules, and to keep consultation with the community a priority.

As a pedestrian, cyclist and mother of two young children I am aware of the many problems on our congested and polluted roads, and I will fight to make these a cleaner safer space for all users.

I will support Knaresborough Town Council’s attempts to safeguard the future of our weekly market, and I will work alongside our community to take appropriate action on crime and antisocial behaviour.

As a Knaresborough town councillor I have always tried hard to champion environmental issues as this echoes my own personal values.

I am grateful that the local Green Party has decided to support us in this by-election.

Sharon Theresa-Calvert, Labour Party candidate for Knaresborough Scriven Park.

Sharon-Theresa Calvert, Labour

I have lived in Scriven Park for nearly 40 years and my father is from Knaresborough.

Decisions made at Knaresborough Town Council and Harrogate Borough Council affect us all and are often made by out of town and unfortunately, out of touch councillors.

I will commit to providing the best representation I can for our local community.

I am a special needs teacher and was chair of Knaresborough Dementia Friendly Community.

As a national executive member for the NASUWT, I am used to dealing with casework and to negotiating with multiple agencies at a national level, I want to do this for our town! I also sit on the TUC Women’s Committee promoting the rights of women who have borne the brunt during the pandemic.

I will be a local voice for a local community, make sure what you say is heard, fight for fairness and equality for all, and ensure you get a clean and green environment which we all deserve. Think globally, act locally.

I will engage with local residents, listen and take up their concerns – I am dedicated to the people of Knaresborough.

I will not make empty promises and I will serve with honesty, transparency and integrity.

I know we will see the same old slogan ‘Labour cannot win here’ but we can and we have a tradition of Scriven Park being Labour.

A new Labour voice is needed on Knaresborough Town Council and on Harrogate Borough Council – please make that voice mine.

Harvey Alexander, UKIP candidate for Knaresborough Scriven Park.

Harvey Alexander, UKIP

The reason I am standing in this Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election is because I am continuing my campaign against a lack of speed camera warning signs in North Yorkshire.

The idea of speed cameras are for people’s safety and to get people to obey the law by using warning signs. North Yorkshire Police are not interested in this, all they want to do is catch people speeding.

When they were first introduced in North Yorkshire, speed cameras were used to stop motorcyclists roaring through the Dales. But the fact is they don’t use them in the Dales, they use them on busy main roads without warnings.

I have been campaigning against this for over 15 years and I would use my position as councillor as a platform to promote safety and saving lives.

My other concerns are the high cost of house prices and the fact that young people are finding it unaffordable to buy a home.

Our authorities seem to have no regard for young people’s needs. They are building thousands of new expensive homes but there is no thought about where young people are going to live and work.

I believe UKIP is still relevant and I should appeal to a wide, diverse section of the public, especially those interested in road safety.

Win or lose in this election, I would like members of the public to support me for safer roads and better ways of stopping motorists speeding.

Are any other elections being held?

Former councillor Samantha Mearns was also a member of Knaresborough Town Council and voting to fill this seat will take place on the same day as the borough council by-election.

There are three candidates for this vote, including Jaqui Renton (Conservatives), Sharon-Theresa Calvert (Labour) and Andy Bell (Liberal Democrats).

A full set of elections for North Yorkshire County Council was due to be held in May but was cancelled because of plans to replace the county’s two-tier councils with either a single unitary authority or two authorities split on an east/west basis.

A final decision on which path to take will be announced by the government this week before elections to the new council structure in May 2022.

Meanwhile, there have been no full elections to Harrogate Borough Council this year and because of the reorganisation plans, it is likely they will never be held again.

The last time elections were held for the Knaresborough Scriven Park seat in 2018 Conservative Samantha Mearns won with 457 votes just ahead of Liberal Democrat Matthew Walker (441 votes) and Labour’s Andrew Wright (291 votes).

The turnout was 36% of 3,266 eligible voters.

Developers have submitted plans for eight commercial units on the former Dunlopillo factory site in Pannal.

York-based Echo Green Developments has lodged the application which would be based to the northern part of the site on Thirkill Drive.

It would include 28 car parking spaces, 10 cycle spaces and two motorcycle spaces.

The developer said in its planning documents that the plan would “deliver much needed economic development” and that the site was earmarked as employment land by the council.

Read more:

• Housing plans set for ‘eyesore’ Dunlopillo office block in Pannal
• Plans for 77 homes on former Trelleborg factory site in Knaresborough

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

The move comes as the former Dunlopillo site has undergone redevelopment. Councillors gave permission to change the site into a mixed-use development back in 2015.

Much of the site has already been demolished and replaced with housing as well as the Vida Grange care home.