Housing Archives - Page 12 of 49

Developer appeals decision to refuse 53 homes in Harrogate

A property developer has launched an appeal after its bid to build 53 homes in Harrogate was refused.

Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee rejected plans for the homes off Knox Lane in the Bilton area in September last year.

Now Teesside developer Jomast has appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which means the council faces a potentially costly legal battle.

Jomast’s appeal form indicates it has opted for an inquiry rather than a hearing or written representations.

It expects the inquiry to last four days and to call witnesses in the fields of planning, highways, design, landscape and ecology

The document says the 3.2-hectare site is owned by the Greenbank family near Boroughbridge.

The council must now decide whether to contest the appeal.

It is the latest round in the long running campaign to build homes off Knox Lane, which has been fiercely resisted by local people.

The site earmarked for houses.

A 45-page report by council case officer Andy Hough before last September’s planning meeting said the application was “considered to now be in compliance with development plan policy” and should be approved.

But councillors cited concerns about land contamination and the lack of a travel plan to go against Mr Hough’s recommendation. The site is alongside a narrow cul-de-sac and not close to a bus route.

Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, spoke on behalf of residents at the meeting. He said:

“There have been over 500 objections to this application from residents. Not because they are ‘nimbys’, but because they believe the council is making a mistake.”

Disability charity unveils assisted living flats in Harrogate

A disability charity has opened its new assisted living development in Harrogate.

Disability Action Yorkshire, which offers support and residential care to people with a range of disabilities, unveiled the St Roberts Grove development on Wednesday, April 10.

The building, which is also owned by Highstone Housing Association, aims to provide disabled people with a space to live independently.

The development consists of 35 accessible flats, 23 of which are now open, which all have their own kitchen, living area, bedroom and wet room.

Support staff will also be on site 24-hours-a-day to provide people with personal care and support when required.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, who cut the ribbon alongside Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson, said the development is “what the future of care looks like”.

The charity said residents of its current care facility, 34 Claro Road, would move into the new flats on Monday, April 14.

The existing care home, which is located next door to St Robert’s Grove, is scheduled for demolition later this year. This will allow for the final stage of development to begin, the charity said, adding it expects the project to be complete by spring 2026.

The charity’s chief executive, Jackie Snape, said:

“The hardest task was finding land, and after a number of false starts we finally realised that our own land on which our current care home stands, along with a small piece of land owned by the council was the solution.

“We are so excited that, finally, our ambition to be part of providing accessible housing is coming to fruition. Being a disabled person doesn’t mean that you have to live in a care home with a large number of people you haven’t chosen to live with; the right to a home of your own is one that should be extended to everyone.”

Revised plans submitted for 126 homes in Knaresborough

Revised plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council to build 126 houses in Knaresborough.

The homes, along with car parking, open spaces and a children’s play area, would be built on two fields used for grazing off Water Lane.

The fields are close to Hay-a-Park site of special scientific interest, which is regarded as an important breeding site for goosander ducks and protected Canada geese.

The site has been subject of multiple proposals for new homes, which the Stray Ferret has covered extensively.

Knaresborough Town Council and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, were among those to object last year when plans were submitted to North Yorkshire Council for 138 homes. More than 600 people also signed a petition opposing the scheme.

Previous plans for 218 homes and 148 homes on the fields were rejected.

View of a section of the proposed site, south and west to school boundary and rear of Carmires Avenue and Halfpenny Lane

New plans for fewer houses have been drawn by Haines Phillips Architects on behalf of applicant Geoffrey Holland.

But Andy Bell, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Knaresborough Town Council who organised last year’s petition, said:

“I’ve spoken with a number of nearby residents who are steadfast in their opposition to this proposal.

“It’s still accessed by narrow estate roads, still very close to the site of special scientific interest and still is on the site of an unlicensed tip that has suspicions of asbestos buried. This site isn’t appropriate.”

To view or comment on the application, visit North Yorkshire Council’s planning website and type reference ZC23/02886/FULMAJ.

Hay-a-Park, site of special scientific interest

Plans revived to build flats off Stockwell Road in Knaresborough

Plans to build eight flats in Knaresborough have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

Applicant Paul Franklin has proposed building the flats on the site of one of the town’s oldest houses and its garden off Stockwell Road.

Under the plans, the existing property would be demolished and a two-storey building erected. The new building would house six two-bedroom flats and two one-bedroom apartments.

The plans also show landscaping and eight car parking places.

Mr Franklin submitted plans to the council last year for nine apartments on the plot. He told the Stray Ferret at the time the scheme would “provide local people a quality and sustainable place to live and enjoy Knaresborough”.

But those plans were withdrawn last summer after about 30 residents and Knaresborough Town Council objected. They raised concerns that the development would be “overbearing and will overlook neighbouring properties”, create parking problems and increase congestion.

The town council is among more than 20 objectors to the new plans.

It said in its submission to North Yorkshire Council:

“Knaresborough Town Council object to this application and sees no reason to change its objections from the previous applications at this site.”

The town council raised concerns about the increase in traffic, location of the refuse and recycling bins and “is not convinced that any lowering of levels will prevent overlooking onto neighbouring properties.”

13 Stockwell Rd flats floorplan. Image: DNA Group

Readers’ Letters: The ‘scruffy’ state of Harrogate makes me ashamed of my town

Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This letter follows an incident on Harrogate’s Parliament Street on Wednesday, during which three teenagers threw bottles from an upper level window onto the street.

Your story about the throwing of bottles onto Parliament Street includes a picture of the buildings on that part of the street, and they just serve to demonstrate how scruffy much of Harrogate is these days.

It makes me ashamed of my town.

Many of the windows appear to be broken, the paintwork is in a dire state, and I’ve no doubt the insides are equally scruffy and weather worn. This is a prime street in what is supposed to be a smart town – doesn’t anybody care?!

Harrogate doesn’t really have individual fine buildings; it is the collective period ambience which gives the style to which the much-needed visitors and shoppers will come. We must make sure that it is kept up to scratch.

How do we make the owners of properties smarten them up? Who do we vote for who will lead the change?

Chris Graville, Harrogate

Housing developments, Kex Gill and local flooding

This letter is in response to several ongoing topics, including plans for new housing developments and the new mayor.

Almost every day the Stray Ferret tells us the council have approved plans to build more houses.

Our hamlets and villages have all now been turned into towns and the green fields can never be recovered. The loss of trees and the damage to wildlife is unforgiveable.

The ‘new town’ on York Road has been advertising for some months “£30,000 of savings”, to me this says they are not selling, so why are the council doing everything in their power to force through these permissions? Nobody ever votes in favour and all the votes are against.

We are a tiny island with limited resources and all this unrestrained building will end in disaster.

Flooding is getting more regular and more severe. Could the fact that 1,000’s of acres of green field sites have been concreted over to build new houses have anything to do with it. As there is no longer any natural drainage where do the authorities think this water is going to go?

In addition, the new mayor: outdated, no longer required and a waste of money. £2.2 million to find a mayor and then £80,000 a year + all the expenses to maintain. What useful purpose does this position provide? Surely this money could be better spent elsewhere.

Malcolm Hodgekinson, Bilton

Lack of information on Kex Gill is ‘outrageous’

This letter follows the ongoing A59 at Kex Gill saga. The road closed more than two months ago. The Stray Ferret reported on Thursday that the road is expected to be closed until the end of June.

Having read the reporting of closure of the A59 in the Kex Gill area, Mr. Alistair Young’s honest comments came as breath of fresh air. The environmental comments which are said to have come from an official could have been written by J. K. Rowling.

It appears to be clear that the public consultation documents haven’t been read and the geological survey hasn’t been observed.

I can’t believe that the effects of a little drop of rain in these conditions wouldn’t have been calculated. To be awarded £115,000 of council tax money to repair an avoidable damaged road clearly needs an independent investigation. It’s about time these so-called knowledgeable officials listened to people like Mr. Young and read documents which they requested.

I live just outside of Harrogate area and travel the A59 every week. Like so many other people we are suffering the inconvenience. The council have been very inconsiderate to local people.

The lack of information has been outrageous.

Interestingly the repairs may begin after Easter, two months after the closure. Ironically that coincides with the new financial year.

Keith Norris, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Plans to build 13 homes in Markington withdrawn

Plans to build 13 homes in Markington have been withdrawn.

Leeds Housing developers KCS Development Ltd applied to build 13 two to four-bedroomed houses with gardens and car parking spaces at High Mill Farm on High Street. Five were classed as affordable homes.

The firm previously applied to build 21 houses on the site in 2022 but withdrew that application in February 2023 to consider “concerns raised by consultees and the planning officer.”

The latest plans for 13 houses were submitted in July last year, but documents on North Yorkshire Council’s planning portal reveal they have now been withdrawn.

The planned site on High Mill Farm, Markington.

A design and access statement submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by Ilkley architects Halliday Clark on behalf of the applicant said there was an “identified need” for new housing in Markington, which is situated between Harrogate and Ripon and has a population of just over 600 people.

The statement said:

“The proposal sits centrally in Markington and is in walking distance of all the village amenities such as the primary school, shops and community spaces. Developing in a small village such as Markington will protect the continuation of these vital services, allowing the village to stay sustainable. There is an identified need within Markington to provide affordable family housing to enable young families and people to stay living in the village.”

The statement adds the development would be “concealed and therefore will have no visual impact on Markington’s high street”.

Markington with Wallerthwaite Parish Council objected to the development and said:

“The council also rejects the idea that there is an ‘identifiable need’ for housing in Markington. The number of properties for sale in the village, which aren’t selling, including on Phase 1, point towards the fact that more housing is just not necessary.

“The council has received no support for the application. There have been no comments in favour of Phase 2 from the village. The total opposite is true. Residents have expressed alarm and frustration with the plans and planning process asking ‘at what time does a village move to not being a village anymore’ when what gives a village its essence is slowly eroded.”

The parish council also raised concerns regarding overlooking, overshadowing, and flood risks. The application received 31 objections.

Readers’ Letters: Harrogate is short of social housing – not luxury apartments

This letter is in response to two stories. One was about plans to convert King’s Club, a former Harrogate strip club, into luxury flats, and the other revealed plans to turn the former Knaresborough cattle market into a commercial unit.

North Yorkshire Council should take the opportunity to provide social housing on these sites.

We are not short of executive homes and luxury apartments, but genuinely affordable homes and social housing are desperately needed.

Harrogate is largely dependent upon conference and tourism to provide jobs but these are not high-waged occupations.

People who would otherwise be able to do this work cannot afford to live in Harrogate.

Diane Stokes, Harrogate

Scant information about Harrogate’s ‘new town’ causing community despair

This letter is in response to a feature about how Harrogate’s ‘new town’ is fuelling worries about local roads.

Thank you for the excellent article in the Stray Ferret on the ‘new town’ around Harrogate’s Western Arc.

I have been involved with Harlow and Pannal Residents Association for over ten years, during which time we have been campaigning on the scale of development and the weak or non-existent infrastructure to support this level of development.

Our message has fallen on the deaf ears of the planning authority, the highways authority and the planning inspectorate throughout that period, despite claims that the authorities have ‘engaged’ with us as stakeholders.

North Yorkshire Council, no doubt through limited resources, appear to rely in large part on the private developers to identify the problems with the road and transport network and to come up with the solutions which unsurprisingly amount to very little. Fundamentally, the studies quantifying the impacts of development have still not yet been produced, either by the developers or the Council, yet a list of ‘mitigations’ is about to be signed off by the Council. This is what Rene refers to as ‘wrong way round’. Needless to say, we and the public at large, have not been informed about the cumulative transport assessment which is key to identifying and resolving the problems.

The sheer length of time this has taken, the constant delays, missed targets and scant information have all contributed to a sense of frustration and despair within the community.

We all know that roads in this area are in a very poor condition with widespread potholes and temporary patches. Years of construction activity followed by the impact of thousands of extra vehicles on the country lanes and residential streets in this part of Harrogate present an alarming prospect for residents.

David Siddans, Harrogate

Crimple Valley needs protecting – not developing

This letter is in response to developers reviving plans to build 17 homes in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley.

If planning permission is granted for this application, then as sure as night follows day another application for more housing will follow.

I have lived in Pannal for 60 years and the A61 Leeds Road is a very dangerous road. There have been numerous accidents on and near the bridge. Two acquaintances of mine were tragically killed outside Almsford Bank Stables a few years ago.

Traffic is very fast-moving, due to the road being downhill.

The Crimple Valley is a lovely walk and needs more protection than it currently has.

Harrogate is being overdeveloped and needs more green spaces not less.

Anne Smith, Pannal

Plan for 20 new homes in Summerbridge

Developers have submitted plans to build 20 homes in Summerbridge.

Nidderdale Estates Ltd, which is based in the village, has tabled the proposal to North Yorkshire Council for land off the B6165.

The plan comes as a proposal for 24 homes on the site, known as Braisty Woods, was refused by the former Harrogate Borough Council in February last year.

The fresh proposal would see a mixture of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom houses.

The dwellings would range from apartments to detached homes, according to the proposal.

In documents submitted to the council, the developer said that the proposal would also include “high quality outdoor space”.

It said:

“The dwellings will be exemplary and provide living accommodation for modern lifestyles. The development as a whole creates a sense of place by introducing a high quality public outdoor space.

“Overall, this development will provide a special place to live in Summerbridge whilst remaining respectful to the local buildings, ancient woodland and AONB setting.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Nine Harrogate homes included in £9.2 million housing scheme

Nine new homes are set to be built in Harrogate and Boroughbridge as part of a £9.2 million housing fund.

The move comes as part of a York and North Yorkshire brownfield housing fund, which was approved this month.

The money will see 700 new homes built across the county, including 252 affordable homes.

A total of nine projects have been agreed, which will see developments built in Catterick, York, Easingwold, Harrogate and Boroughbridge.

Funding was agreed, subject to further due diligence, at a meeting of the York and North Yorkshire Joint Devolution Committee.

If progressed, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will administer the fund. Investment has been secured from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, said:

“North Yorkshire is one of the most desirable places to live in the country, but with that comes a massive demand for housing, especially for more affordable homes.

“We want people to be able to continue to live in the communities where they grew up, while also allowing others to move to the county to help to bring in the skills and experience which are needed to boost the economy.

“This is a significant moment for both York and North Yorkshire to see more than £9 million being used to fund hundreds of new properties, especially with more than a third of them being affordable homes.”

Looking ahead: Major projects in the Harrogate district in 2024

The past 12 months have seen major decisions made on development across the Harrogate district.

However, there are some schemes which remain uncertain and 2024 may hold the answer as to whether they progress or continue to stall.

Maltkiln

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for the new settlement project which promises up to 3,000 near Green Hammerton and Cattal.

However, in January, news broke that a landowner had pulled out of the project threatening the scheme’s existence.

The landowner owns fields around Cattal train station, making up around half of the proposed site.

Now, North Yorkshire Council, which took over responsibility for the major housing scheme in April, has threatened to compulsory purchase land as a “last resort” so the 4,000-home Maltkiln settlement can be built.

Whether the authority follows through on that pledge is a development to keep an eye out for in 2024.

Harrogate Convention Centre

Perhaps one of the biggest question going into the new year is what will happen to the long promised Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment?

North Yorkshire Council inherited a £49 million refurbishment scheme for the convention centre on Kings Road from the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council in April.

However, it has yet to decide whether to progress with the project.

Harrogate Convention Centre.

A contractor has been appointed to draw up more detailed plans for the redevelopment and a final decision was expected this year.

The convention centre opened in 1982 with conferences providing a boost to the town’s bars, restaurants and hotels, however, it has struggled to turned a profit.

The council failed in bids to the government’s Levelling Up Fund for £20 million to help pay for the project – the latest of which was turned down in November.

A previous bid, which was rejected in January, received feedback from ministers stating that it lacked evidence and rationale and may have over-stated the economic benefits.

Government feedback on the bid, released following a freedom of information request by the Stray Ferret, revealed several areas of concerns with the bid.

This is despite the fact the council, which was abolished at the end of March, paid consultants £45,000 as part of its submission to ministers.

The whole saga leaves the future of the convention centre and its refurbishment uncertain and a decision on it being pushed into another year.

Ripon’s Clotherholme development

One of the last acts of Harrogate Borough Council before it was scrapped in April 2023 was to approve a major 1,300 housing scheme on a former Ripon barracks site.

Homes England, which has been developing the plans for several years alongside the Ministry of Defence, has earmarked the Clotherholme site for new homes and facilities.

It was approved in February 2023, just over a month before the council was scrapped.

Since then, a total of £10 million has been budgeted to cover items in a Section 106 agreement for the project.

The money will fund a number of areas, including off-site highway adjustments and contributions towards primary and secondary education provision and primary healthcare.

Now, residents in Ripon and the wider district await for the news that spades will hit the ground.

Kirby Hill services

The 25-year saga which is Kirby Hill took another turn in 2023.

Dublin-based company Applegreen, which wants to build a motorway service station near the village, tabled final plans for the project.

The proposals were approved in September – however, campaigners threatened to take the decision to a judicial review.

Designs for the service station near Kirby Hill, as proposed by Applegreen.

Applegreen, which is based in Dublin, applied for amendments to the proposal, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

But, Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill RAMS, said the move amounted to “significant change” to the scheme and confirmed the campaign group would challenge the approval.

It seems the saga which has been a quarter of a century in the making may yet go on for another year.

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Housing developments, Kex Gill and local flooding

Lack of information on Kex Gill is ‘outrageous’

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Scant information about Harrogate’s ‘new town’ causing community despair

Crimple Valley needs protecting – not developing

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Maltkiln

Harrogate Convention Centre

Ripon’s Clotherholme development

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Kirby Hill services