Developers held a drop-in session yesterday to discuss their latest plans for a 25-home scheme in the Kingsley area of Harrogate.
Quarters Kingsley received planning permission to build up to 30 homes on the site of the former chicken farm at Kingsley Farm in January.
The company, based in Felliscliffe, is now preparing to submit a reserved matters planning application to North Yorkshire Council, which seeks to finalise details such as the layout, design and appearance.
Development director David Williams and architect Nigel Jacques displayed a proposed site design and answered questions at Starbeck Community Library between 4pm and 8pm at yesterday’s event.
Starbeck Community Library
It revealed Quarters Kingsley plans to build a new road off Kingsley Road, which would provide access to 20 of the properties. The other five would be served by a road off Hawthorn Place.
The main access road would be supplemented by short private roads leading to clusters of houses, which unlike many developments will not be built in straight lines. Each cluster will include a range of two- to five-bed properties.
The proposed design would retain an ancient woodland and also include an orchard and five-metre “ecological edge” at the site boundary to encourage wildlife such as badgers. However, three trees would be felled.
Mr Jacques said the amenities and “blended” nature of the design would make it a desirable place to live and open up private land for local access. He added:
“We want to provide a true community site that cuts across age and financial stature.”
Mr Williams said the fact Quarters Kingsley planned to build 25 homes rather than the permitted 30 highlighted it was willing to listen to concerns.
He added:
“We are a local developer with a genuine and sincere desire to deliver something unique.”
Some 600 new houses have been approved in the Kingsley area in recent years and residents have expressed frustration about the long-term impact of so much development.
Mr Jacques and Mr Williams declined to discuss concerns about the level of development in Kingsley but said they were keen to engage with local people before submitting the reserved matters application.
Read more:
- Harrogate councillors approve sixth Kingsley housing scheme
- Kingsley anger reaches ‘boiling point’ as another 162 homes set for approval
Harrogate residents consider vehicle protest against developers
Residents in part of Harrogate flooded by new homes may refuse to move their vehicles off the street tomorrow in protest.
A modular building that acted as a developer’s office and has stood derelict for years is due to be taken away by the company Portakabin.
A traffic management company has asked people on Kingsley Road to move any vehicles parked on the street so there is enough space for the building to be transported along the street from its location on Hawthorne Place.
But Kingsley Ward Action Group, which was set up to protect green spaces from development, said some residents are so angry about the number of new homes and the way developers have acted they are unwilling to comply.
A spokesman for the group said:
“I will park my car legally outside my own house but as that is opposite the post box there is no way this size vehicle will pass.
“As for the rest of the street I doubt the vehicle will even get to me there seems to be a fair bit of anger over this.
Will there be enough room for the modular building to be removed on Kingsley Road?
North Yorkshire Council has issued a traffic order preventing waiting and loading along one side of Kingsley Road from tomorrow until Friday.
But the spokesman said many residents were unclear exactly where they could park and what was legally permitted.
Some 600 homes are being built in the Kingsley Road area after a succession of planning applications were approved.
Read more:
- Kingsley anger reaches ‘boiling point’ as another 162 homes set for approval
- Harrogate councillors approve sixth Kingsley housing scheme
North Yorkshire Council’s highways area manager for Harrogate, Melisa Burnham, said:
Council investigates planning breach claims at 53-home Harrogate site“We have worked with the traffic management contractor and Portakabin to ensure that any disruption during the removal of the building is kept to a minimum in terms of the location and duration of the temporary parking restrictions.
“The traffic management contractor has informed residents and we have been in close contact with the community to allay concerns and ensure they understand the minimal nature of the restrictions.
“In general terms, where temporary traffic regulation orders prohibit parking, contravention of an order can be enforced by parking services and obstructions of the highway by the police.”
North Yorkshire Council is investigating an alleged breach of planning in a Harrogate field where 53 homes could be built.
North-east property developer Jomast has applied to build the homes off Knox Lane in Bilton. Councillors deferred the scheme for a third time this month amid concerns about land contamination.
Since then, the council has opened a probe into potential damage to trees within the tree preservation order.
The Stray Ferret has seen a letter from a council planning enforcement officer to a resident saying it is investigating and will provide a further update within 28 days.
When we approached the council about it, assistant director for planning Trevor Watson said:
“We can confirm that we are currently investigating a possible breach of planning regulations at that location.
“While that investigation is ongoing we will not be commenting further.”
The Knox scheme has received more than 300 objections amid concerns about its impact on a quiet corner of Bilton.
Sue Wrightson, of the Keep Knox Natural campaign group, which opposes the development, claimed field activity undertaken at the site this month did not conform with council guidelines on contaminated land.
Photos of the site
Dr Damian Bowen a toxicologist and local resident who has submitted a review of Jomast’s phase two contamination report, alleged the company had not addressed concerns raised about the reliability of its data.
In response to a request for comment on the council investigation, Stephen Courcier, planning consultant for the application at Jomast, said:
“We can confirm that the further site investigative works to the railway embankment took place over Thursday and Friday of last week.
“These further investigative works were specifically requested by the local planning authority.”
Read more:
- Council’s new dog poo policy causes a stink in Knox
- Controversial Knox Lane 53-homes plan deferred for third time
Bilton garages set to be demolished for housing
Harrogate Borough Council‘s plan to demolish 10 garages at Woodfield Close in Bilton and build two social homes has been recommended for approval.
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.
Harrogate is one of the most unaffordable places to live in England, with average house prices around 11 times the median annual income of people who work in the district.
There are currently 1,867 households on the social housing waiting list.
In planning documents, the council said the development would help to provide “much needed affordable homes”.
The council earmarked the site for housing in August 2021. In total, it has 26 garages.
In November last year, the council was awarded £50,000 of government cash to bring forward housing on the garage site at Woodfield as well as at Park Row in Knaresborough.
The council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday to decide whether or not to approve the Woodfield proposal.
Read more:
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Controversial Knox Lane housing plans recommended for approval
-
Rise in empty homes adds pressure on Harrogate district housing market
The report to councillors says:
Harrogate estate agent records £15m turnover“The provision of two affordable dwellings is a modest addition to the district’s housing land supply.
“The design of the dwellings would respect local distinctiveness and there would be no significant harm to local residential amenity, or highway safety.
“The housing development would provide off-street parking and be a more efficient use of the site.
“The proposal would comply with the provisions of the development plan and national planning policies and guidance, and should be supported.”
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Company accounts show Linley & Simpson recorded a turnover of £15m in the year ending 31 December 2021, up from £11.7m in 2020.
Pre-tax profit was £2.81m, compared to £2.86m the previous year, while operating profit before depreciation and amortisation was £4.67m, up from £3.95m.
The group completed seven acquisitions during the period, with five share purchases and two trade and asset purchases.
The group’s residential portfolio increased from 11,477 to 12,515 during the year, primarily driven by its acquisitions.
The company is planning to expand its land and new homes department to cover the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber from its 23 offices.
David Waddington, the agency’s director of land and new homes, said:
“Having grown into the largest land and new homes agent in the area, we now have a strong launch pad for taking our services to house builders in new territories.”
Read more:
Digital marketing graduate scheme announced
Harrogate digital agency group IDHL has welcomed 14 new starters to its biggest ever graduate training programme, which will be run from its Harrogate, Leeds and Manchester offices.
The 12-month specialist digital development programme for graduates has a goal of attracting new talent and investing in the training and development of entry level candidates.
The graduates will undergo training and get first-hand agency experience in other digital marketing service specialisms such as 6technical SEO, copywriting and digital PR as well as web development and design.
Graduate training manager Giacomo Palmieri said:
“I am proud to see this graduate scheme grow, with our successes and learnings in Paid laying solid foundation for the wider teams.
“When we started this programme, we had just one graduate candidate in place at a time, but this year we’ll have four people in Paid Media alone, and a further ten across other areas of the business. It’s so great to see.
“Our six alumni have become key to the day-to-day running of our team, and one has recently been promoted to senior executive.”