Former Harrogate Chinese restaurant to be converted into home

A former Harrogate Chinese restaurant is to be converted into a house.

The proposal submitted by John Tang will see the former Kwun Wah on Strawberry Dale changed into a four-bedroom home.

Harrogate Borough Council has approved the plans.

The Kwun Wah restaurant has been closed since 2006.

Planning permission was granted back in 2011 to convert the former restaurant into a home, but has since expired.

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Developer appeals decision to refuse 13 homes plan on Ripon timber yard

A developer has appealed a council decision to refuse plans for 13 homes on a former Ripon timber yard.

Red Tree Developments wanted to demolish buildings at the site of the former NY Timber yard to build the homes.

The site on Trinity Lane was home to a timber yard from 1860 to 2018.

However, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the plan in December 2020 on the grounds that the scheme would cause “unacceptable harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area.

Now, the developer has taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

Jay Everett, a planning consultant who submitted the appeal on behalf of Red Tree, said the loss of the timber yard building would offer “no contribution to the setting”.

He said:

“My conclusion, derived from the evidence provided, is that the loss of the existing building would cause ‘less than substantial harm’ to the conservation area and that, regarding listed buildings in the vicinity, the existing building makes no contribution to their setting and moreover that the proposed development would visually benefit the setting of Holy Trinity School.”

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Red Tree bought the 0.64-acre plot, which is adjacent to the listed buildings, Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School and St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, from Cairngorm Capital for an undisclosed sum this year.

In its original planning application, the developer said the timber yard, which is not listed, must be replaced due to its “poor state of repair”.

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.

Council recommends controversial Kingsley Farm homes be approved

Officers at Harrogate Borough Council have recommended that a controversial plan to build new homes on Kingsley Farm is approved.

The scheme for up to 30 homes, which have been proposed by Quarterly Kingsley Ltd, are earmarked for the north and north east of the site off Kingsley Road.

The developer said in a planning statement submitted to Harrogate Borough Council the scheme would help to offer a “sense of place”.

However, the proposal has been met by fierce objections from residents and concerns from officials at NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

But, the borough council has recommended that the plan is deferred and approved subject to section 106 agreements been reached.

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The move comes as Nick Brown, of the NHS North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said GPs were “extremely concerned” about further development within Harrogate.

The NHS has requested £58,617 in developer contributions as part of the proposal.

Mr Brown said:

“As primary care providers, the GPs and primary care networks are extremely concerned regarding any proposals for further residential development within Harrogate.

“The existing health infrastructure in Harrogate already operates above optimum capacity and has very limited capacity to absorb additional pressures.”

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council highways have requested a contribution of £25,000 “to address the cumulative impact of development traffic, particularly in respect of the A59/Kingsley Road junction”.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will make a decision on the plan at a meeting on January 24.

Plan to convert former Harrogate Italian restaurant into flat

Plans have been lodged to convert the former Luigi’s restaurant in Harrogate into a flat.

The Italian restaurant on Valley Drive closed in October 2021. Now, proposals have been lodged to change the use of the building into a flat.

Documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by Nidge O’Brien say the former restaurant would be changed into one two-bedroom apartment.

Luigi’s closed its doors on October 17. In a post on its Facebook page, management at the restaurant said:

“We have thus reached the end of the journey, and we take this opportunity to thank all the customers who have supported us with their affection during these two years. 

“Luigi’s Restaurant will open its doors for you on Sunday 17th October for the last time.  

“Heartfelt thanks to all of you, it was a pleasure to pamper you and give you the goodness of our simple and genuine dishes.  We will meet again, around the county.”

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

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Plan to convert part of Harrogate’s Old Swan hotel into 17 flats

A plan has been tabled to convert part of the Old Swan hotel in Harrogate into 17 flats.

Northern Trust Company Ltd, part of Classic Lodges which owns the hotel, has submitted the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council.

The company has tabled the plan to convert the ancillary wing of the Grade-II listed building, which dates back to the late 19th century.

In documents submitted to the council, the owners said the part of the hotel had “gradually become redundant” and was “almost entirely vacant”.

The company said in its planning application:

“The existing ancillary wing is not viable as hotel accommodation as there are sufficient rooms in the main buildings and serving the rear wing would be problematic with numerous level changes.”

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As part of the plan, the ancillary wing would be converted into 17 one and two-bedroom flats.

The existing staff car park would be extended to the back of the building to provide residential parking.

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

Harrogate councillors to take some housing decisions under new council

Decisions over some housing developments are set to be handed to Harrogate councillors ahead of North Yorkshire Council coming into force.

The new authority will replace Harrogate Borough Council in April, which left questions over how decisions over planning would be made.

Now, the county council has outlined plans for six area committees which will consider planning applications at a local level.

Under proposals for its new constitution, the Harrogate and Knaresborough committee would oversee housing decisions in the constituency area.

Meanwhile, Ripon and Skipton committee would oversee planning in the Ripon area.

However, councillors in those area will only consider applications under 500 homes. Anything above that threshold will be considered by the strategic planning committee in Northallerton.

Cllr Carl Les, Conservative leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said it was important that local councillors make decisions in their local areas.

He said:

“Local voices and local accountability are central to the vision of the new North Yorkshire Council.

“Area committees are a key element in this, providing local community leadership in conjunction with the community networks we propose to create, helping to shape economic development in their locality and holding the executive to account, complementing the work of the scrutiny committees.”

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The move comes as Cllr Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee, said previously that not handing powers to such committees would “erode accountability”.

In Harrogate, decisions are still expected on a bottling plant at Harrogate Spring Water and a 3,000 home town between Knaresborough and Cattall called Maltkiln.

Senior county councillors will consider the powers as part of a draft constitution for North Yorkshire Council at a meeting on January 17.

GPs ‘extremely concerned’ about new housing in Harrogate

NHS managers have objected to plans for 49 homes at Kingsley Farm in Harrogate and warned that the town’s health infrastructure has “very limited capacity”.

The homes, which have been proposed by Quarterly Kingsley Ltd, are earmarked for the north and north east of the site off Kingsley Road.

The developer said in a planning statement submitted to Harrogate Borough Council the scheme would help to offer a “sense of place”.

However, Nick Brown, of the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, has objected to the plan.

In a letter to the council, he warned GPs were “extremely concerned” about further development within Harrogate.

He said:

“As primary care providers, the GPs and primary care networks are extremely concerned regarding any proposals for further residential development within Harrogate.

“The existing health infrastructure in Harrogate already operates above optimum capacity and has very limited capacity to absorb additional pressures.

“Primary care and community services within the area are already running at, or far beyond their existing capacity.”

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The Kingsley area has seen multiple planning applications lodged to build houses on Kingsley Farm, including a revised proposal for 162 homes by Persimmon Homes.

Residents in the area have long held concerns about the amount of housebuilding in the area and its affect on traffic, noise and loss of green space.

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

Knaresborough housing site should be reviewed under local plan, says councillor

A councillor has called for land earmarked for homes in Knaresborough to be reviewed under the council’s new housing plan.

North Yorkshire Council is set to draw up a new local plan when it comes into force in April. It will outline where development can take place across the Harrogate district over the next 30 years.

But Andy Bell, who sits on Knaresborough Town Council, has called for land at Water Lane in the town to be “questioned” after it was previously allocated for housing in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan.

The site was subject to a 170-home proposal last year, but it was thrown out by the government’s Planning Inspectorate on appeal.

Cllr Bell, a Liberal Democrat who spoke against the application at the Inspectorate hearing, said the new council should “think again” on the development.

He said:

“There have been four developments within a few hundred metres of this site recently, three of which are still under construction.

“We can not lose what makes Knaresborough special by allowing development if it is not right for the physical site or the community. This is not a no to all development.

“The Water Lane development had huge issues with access, no public transport provision, and was far too close to the neighbouring site of special scientific interest.

“It has been rejected at all levels of the planning process. It’s time to think again and question its place in the local plan.”

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The Water Lane site is currently allocated for 148 homes under the current Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-2035.

The creation of a fresh local plan for North Yorkshire was agreed by senior councillors last month.

The new local plan will look ahead for a minimum of 15 years, and at least 30 years in relation to any larger scale developments, such as new settlements or significant urban extensions. It would encompass all areas of the county outside the national parks.

Conservative Cllr Simon Myers, executive councillor for growth and housing on the county council, said:

“The plan will be vital to the new North Yorkshire Council’s ambitions to deliver sustainable economic growth, through good homes and jobs, as well as the best facilities and infrastructure for everyone who lives or works in the county.

“Planning guidance will also play a key role in meeting our ambitious targets to tackle climate change. In addition, it can support other services in meeting the needs of our many communities at a local level, taking into account everything from transport and education to housing, health and social care.”

Sharow pub owner appeals housing plan refusal

The owner of the Half Moon Inn at Sharow has appealed a decision to refuse plans to convert the pub into a house.

The pub on Sharow Lane opened in 1822 but closed in 2016.

Mark Fitton, owner of the pub, lodged a plan to convert the former pub into a house in March last year.

However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the proposal on the grounds that “insufficient evidence” had been submitted to demonstrate that no community use existed for the property.

Mr Fitton has now taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, the body that deals with planning disputes.

He has also resubmitted the proposal to the council and challenged a decision to allocate the former pub as an asset of community value.

In documents submitted to the government, he said:

“Contrary to the stated reason for refusal, an abundance of evidence was submitted to demonstrate that no community use exists for this property.”

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A government planning inspector will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Following the council’s decision to allocate the building as an asset of community value, residents have called for the pub to be reinstated.

However, Mr Fitton has challenged the move and called for a review of the decision.

In a letter to Mr Fitton, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, the council confirmed that it expected to complete a review by January 29, 2023.

Plan to convert former Markington pub into house approved

A plan to convert a former Markington pub into a house has been approved.

The Cross Keys Inn, on High Street, closed in 2016 after declining turnover and profitability.

Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to convert the former public house into a home.

ID Planning, which lodged the plan on behalf of Leeds-based Lotherton Property Services, said in documents submitted to the council the building had been extensively marketed for sale as a pub.

But it added potential buyers had shown little interest in reopening it for that purpose.

The documents said:

“No party expressed any interest whatsoever in reopening it as a public house or indeed any other use other than residential.”

The proposal would see the former pub converted into a four-bedroom house along with three car parking spaces.

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