Theakston’s Brewery increases turnover despite covid restrictions

Theakston’s Brewery in Masham increased its turnover by £861,000 in 2021, despite dealing with the effects of lockdown and the Omicron variant.  

The brewery only had 5 months of normal trading in 2021 due to the pandemic, and for 3 and a half months, it was forced to close completely. 

The company suffered a pre-tax loss of £2,000 last year, but in the height of the pandemic in 2020, the loss was much more significant at £334k.

Pre-covid in 2019, the brewery had made profits of £235k.  

In the latest financial statement, the company said:  

“T&R Theakston Ltd ended 2021 as a well-balanced business with enhanced capabilities across more channels, a stronger organisation, a more flexible business approach, greater consumer engagement and a continued reputation for the high quality of its beers.” 

Managing director Simon Theakston added:  

“The last two years have been tough for all sectors, including the British brewing industry.  

“As our 2021 results show, we are well on the road to overcoming this latest challenge.” 

Theakston’s Brewery was founded in 1827 and is now run by the family of original founder, Robert Theakston.  

Harrogate business EnviroVent celebrates 2 millionth filterless fan  

Harrogate manufacturer EnviroVent celebrated its 2 millionth filterless fan last week.  

A special edition sustainable fan was created for the occasion, as well as a filterless fan celebration cake and 200 cupcakes. 

Managing director Andy Makin with the 2 millionth filterless fan.

The fans were designed for the social housing sector, and help to reduce mould and condensation in homes across the UK.  

Andy Makin, Managing Director at EnviroVent, said: 

“We are really excited to be celebrating the two millionth Filterless Fan to be produced in our factory. 

“We are very proud of the innovations we have made to ensure it is still one of the most sustainable fans on the market.”

The fans have saved several tonnes of replacement extractor fans going to landfill sites, as well as reducing the amount of plastics going into the production process.

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‘Where’s the infrastructure?’: New councillor queries 480-home Bluecoat Wood plan

Questions remain about how an extra 480 homes near Harlow Hill will impact roads, schools and doctor’s surgeries, according to the new councillor for the area.

Homes England last week submitted plans for the development at Bluecoat Wood opposite Cardale Park.

The site covers 28 hectares of largely green fields and the homes would wrap around horticultural charity Horticap.

The proposals include new cricket and football pitches.

A mix of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom houses are proposed for the site. Homes England says 40% of the houses will be allocated as “affordable”.

“Fed up with housebuilding”

Michael Schofield is the Liberal Democrat councillor for Harlow & St George’s on North Yorkshire County Council, after being elected this month.

The councillor, who is also the landlord of the Shepherd’s Dog pub, claims there is “no provision” in the plans for services that residents will use.

Cllr Schofield said:

“Don’t get me wrong, the idea of playing fields and a cricket pitch is great, but you do have to think about extra traffic and infrastructure.

“There’s no provision for services. I’d like to see more planning for residents.

“Yes the homes look attractive, but there’s no clear plan for infrastructure. I don’t want them to do anything until they have one.”

Cllr Schofield said there is strong feeling locally about the scale and speed of housebuilding.

“I see residents out walking their dogs and it’s the main issue people are telling me, they are fed up of seeing building site after building site.”

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Last month, a separate application was submitted by Anwyl Land and national housebuilder Redrow Homes for 780 homes on fields opposite Bluecoat Wood on Otley Road.

At Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association‘s (Hapara) AGM in April, the group’s secretary David Siddans said residents are bracing themselves for “15 years of disruption” due to the sheer number of homes that will be built in phases around Otley Road.

Hapara has been highly critical of the delayed West Harrogate Parameters Plan (WHPP), a document drawn up by Harrogate Borough Council that is supposed to address the infrastructure associated with the different housing developments.

A final version of the plan has yet to be signed off by the council.

The plan will also be supplemented with an ‘infrastructure delivery document’ to nail down the infrastructure requirements in greater detail, but it’s yet to see the light of day.

‘Pause a decision’

Mr Siddans called on Harrogate Borough Council to pause any decision on Bluecoat Wood until the infrastructure delivery document is published.

He said:

“Hapara accepts that the principle of development on this site has been established through the Local Plan process, but considers it essential that the proposals are considered in the wider context of the whole western arc expansion, particularly regarding infrastructure provision, sustainability, landscape protection and adherence to net zero carbon targets.

“Low building density, high-quality design and appropriate housing mix with tree-lined streets are also matters that we will be looking at in our response. That is why no decisions should be made on this application or any of the adjacent sites until the West of Harrogate Parameters Plan is finalised, including the detail of the infrastructure delivery plan.”

Mr Siddans’s words were echoed by Cllr Howard West, chair of Beckwithshaw and Haverah Parish Council.

He said:

“The parish council’s standpoint is that the application should not even be logged, let alone considered, until the infrastructure delivery plan part of the WHPP has been finalised and approved.”

Homes England

A planning statement by Homes England says the development has been guided by the WHPP.

It says the sports pitch will be used by local schools, improving facilities for the area’s children.

On transport, it says the development will eventually link up with the Otley Road Cycle Path and an existing bus service to Cardale Park.

“The site has a good level of accessibility with Harrogate town centre, via a comprehensive network of footways and cycleways and is within a short cycling distance of Harrogate town centre.

“There are existing bus services which are accessible from the site and offer a relatively frequent level of services and Harrogate Rail Station, Hornbeam Rail Station and Pannal Rail Station which can be accessed as part of a multi-modal journey to [and] from the site.”

33 homes set to be built in Kirkby Malzeard

Plans have been approved to build 33 homes in Kirkby Malzeard.

Mulberry Homes Yorkshire submitted the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council to construct the scheme off Back Lane in the village.

The development will see a mixture of one, two, three and four bedroom houses built at the site.

A total of 40% of the homes will be allocated for affordable housing.

In a letter to the council, Kirkby Malzeard, Laverton and Dallowgill Parish Council said it welcomed the reduction in homes for the site.

Initially, outline planning permission was granted for 37 homes.

Victoria Preston, clerk at the parish council, said:

“We note that the total number of units proposed is to be 33, rather than the maximum permitted under the outline consent of 37, and we feel that this is a useful reduction, given the concerns of residents in respect of the increased flow of traffic which the development will create through the village.”

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The developer said in documents submitted to the council that the scheme would respect the local area and its characteristics.

It said:

“The result of this design process is a proposed development of 33 dwellings, which would be delivered through a variety of house types that promote local distinctiveness.

“The development would be designed to respect the site location, the physical characteristics of the site and the positive architectural elements of existing development which contribute to its sense of place.”

Siblings, 11 and 7, get creative to protest against new Knox Lane houses

Two creative siblings have put up posters and written poems to protest against a housing development on Harrogate’s Knox Lane.

North-east property developer Jomast wants to build 53 homes on a field off Knox Lane in a green corner of Bilton that residents cherish.

Jasmine Stoyles, 7, and her brother Francis, 11, both go to Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School in Bilton.

They live close to where the homes could be built and enjoy admiring the deer, birds and other wildlife in the green fields.

But they fear the idyllic scene won’t be there when they grow up.

Mum Caroline said the threat of development inspired the kids to get their pens out and protest. Over the weekend they put up posters and poems on trees and a notice board nearby.

Jasmine’s poem says it’s a “horrible sight looking at concrete and cement” and Francis’ poem pleads “see the trees that grew up there, soon it will be all bare”.

Ms Stoyles said:

“We just appreciated all through lockdown how many people come here. It’s a lovely place to be. 

“To lose that connection to the countryside would totally change the nature of the area.”

Jasmine’s poem is below:

“Spring is a lovely time, but not when people are killing nature,

“People do not care about nature anymore because they are looking at their toes,

“Wrens and other birds are going to lose their homes because they are cutting down the trees,

“It is a horrible sight looking at concrete and cement,

“Nothing can replace Harrogate’s space.”

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Ripon paint specialists turn steam train ‘platinum purple’ for Jubilee

Ripon paint specialists T&R Williamson have played a part in painting the popular steam train Taw Valley “platinum purple” ahead of the Queen’s jubilee.  

T&R Williamson hold a Royal warrant for their supply of products to the Royal household, used for the Royal mews and Royal carriages.  

Group chairman Abubaker Sheibani said:  

“We are thrilled to have been able to extend this Royal connection to this unique project. It is a fitting and truly memorable way of commemorating Her Majesty becoming the first British monarch in history to reign for 70 years.” 

After a public vote at Severn Valley Railway, it was decided the train will be renamed Elizabeth II during the jubilee celebrations. 

The royal project has also attracted the attention of leading British model company, Hornby, who are producing a collector’s model of the new purple locomotive.  

T&R Williamson, along with Thomas-Howse Paints and Metprint Ltd, have created a “platinum purple” paint tin to mark the occasion. It will be filled with traditional sweets and transforms into a money-box when empty.    

Harrogate estate agent makes historic land sale deal for £4 million

Harrogate estate agent Linley & Simpson has sold a patch of land in North Yorkshire for over £4 million.  

The land in Church Fenton has been bought by Yorkshire Country Properties, which plans to build 50 new homes on the residential site.  

This sale is the biggest this year for the award-winning land and new homes team at Linley & Simpson, and is one of the company’s most significant deals.  

Director David Waddington said:  

“Given the coveted location, there was no shortage of interest among developers in the site, which was sold with full planning permission”.  

The agency says North Yorkshire house buyers are increasingly turning to new builds post-Covid, particularly for family homes in rural areas. They suggest this is also a result of rising energy costs across the country.  

They are hoping this trend will continue, creating more demand among developers for land in prime locations across the region.  

Knaresborough GPs operating at ‘clinical capacity’

GP practices in Knaresborough are operating at “clinical capacity”, according to clinical commissioning group managers.

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions GP services in the area, recently reviewed the average number of patients to full time GPs in the town.

Details of the review emerged when the CCG recently objected to a new housing development on the site of the former Trelleborg factory on Halfpenny Lane in Knaresborough.

Nick Brown, senior planning and capital officer at the CCG, said in a letter to Harrogate Borough Council that the impact of any further housing developments would be “very significant”.

He said:

“NHS North Yorkshire CCG has recently undergone a review of the GP primary care estates in Knaresborough, consulting with all the GP practices and the Knaresborough and Rural Primary Care Network (PCN) with responsibility for providing services in this locality.

“The confirmed consensus is that the practices are currently operating at clinical capacity in relation to the average number of patients to full-time GP ratio, compounded by existing limitations with internal clinical space.”

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Mr Brown added:

“The existing GP surgery premises in Knaresborough are currently operating at capacity and the impact of any further local housing development on health services and health infrastructure is very significant.

“The existing health infrastructure cannot absorb the further pressure on delivery of services arising from the housing development.”

On Tuesday, Harrogate Borough Council granted permission to developers Countryside Properties to build 64 homes at the former Trelleborg site on Halfpenny Lane, which closed in 2016.

The CCG asked for £75,937 from the developers to fund improvements to services in the area. How much will be given is to be negotiated.

The CCG made a similar objection in March to plans for new retirement apartments on Wetherby Road in Knaresborough.

It said it was “extremely concerned” that another care facility could increase the elderly population and “overload” local services.

Historic Darley Mill to be converted to housing

An 18th-century corn mill in Nidderdale is to be converted into housing after complaints that the historic building once used as a shop and restaurant has deteriorated into a “mess”.

The proposals for Darley Mill include the conversion of nine homes and the construction of 11 new properties at the Grade-II listed site.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee approved the plans at a meeting on Tuesday when a local councillor said many villagers wanted to see the site redeveloped “as soon as possible”.

Cllr Sue Welch, chair of Darley and Menwith Parish Council, said:

“The current mill building is a mess – it spoils the whole look of the village and that part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“We need to bring it back into use and good repair.”

Cllr Welch said although the parish council viewed the mill conversion as “essential,” it could not support the construction of new homes at the site.

In response, Richard Irving, an agent for the developers YorPlace said the new builds were needed in order to make the development financially feasible – a view which was supported by an independent valuer.

Mr Irving also said the development would be carried out to the “highest quality”.

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The approval comes after previous plans for a smaller development of 13 homes were given the go-ahead in 2018. However, these plans never came forward.

The site closed as a corn mill in the 1960s and was most recently run by Yorkshire Linen Company as a restaurant and shop until 2016 when the company ran into financial problems.

Prior to this, the mill was converted into a store selling crafts and clothing in the mid-1980s.

The latest proposals include a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties across the site.

The mill’s water wheel will also be kept under the plans.

Councillors cast five votes for and two against to approve the plans at Tuesday’s meeting.

Plans approved for 64 homes on former Trelleborg factory

Plans for 64 homes at the site of a former rubber factory in Knaresborough have been given the go-ahead.

Harrogate Borough Council granted permission to developers Countryside Properties to build the homes at the former Trelleborg site on Halfpenny Lane, which closed in 2016.

The site, which is not allocated for housing in the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place, had drawn concerns over the impact on traffic and health services.

Knaresborough Liberal Democrat councillor Hannah Gostlow told Tuesday’s planning meeting that increased traffic levels in the area had become “really dangerous” and led to rat-running.

She said: 

“There is another big development across the road and already the impact on the Boroughbridge Road junction at Hyde Park Road is causing residents a lot of concern and in my mind is really dangerous.

“We are seeing Halfpenny Lane at the back of Hyde Park Road being used as a rat-run.

“This is also a loss of industrial land which is not good for a town’s sustainability.”

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In response, Robert Harding, town planner at Countryside Properties, said the site had been advertised for employment use for “a number of years” but failed to attract a buyer.

He also said the developers were in negotiations with highways officials at North Yorkshire County Council over contributing cash towards junction upgrades.

He added: 

“The proposals are in-keeping with the predominantly residential character of the area and will bring a derelict and underutilised site back into use.

“The site is located within the development limits of Knaresborough and will provide new homes at a location close to the town centre and railway station.”

Town council says homes ‘not needed’

Objections against the plans were made by Knaresborough Town Council, which said the homes were “not needed”.

The NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group also submitted a late objection which said a wave of new housing across Knaresborough threatened to overload the town’s “already massively stretched” health services.

The CCG has asked for £75,937 from the developers to fund improvements to services in the area.

The plans include a mix of one to four-bedroom homes, as well 20 properties classed as affordable.

Originally, the developers had requested permission for 77 homes, however, this was reduced to 64 after a protection order was placed on a group of trees which have been saved from felling.

The plans were approved with seven votes for and one against at Tuesday’s meeting.

Plan to convert former Harrogate taxi office into flat

Plans have been lodged to convert the former Airline Taxis office in Harrogate into a one bedroom flat.

The ground floor offices on East Parade are currently vacant after a liquidator was appointed to wind up the company in June last year.

A directors report to creditors, signed by Airline’s sole director Mohammad Suleman, said the company experienced a “significant decline” in turnover due to lack of travel during the first covid lockdown.

Now, plans have been submitted by developer Mr T Halliday to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the offices into a one-bedroom flat.

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Documents lodged to the authority say that the building would retain its existing features and the same floor area as the taxi company office.

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

Badgers delay approval of 133 homes at Kingsley Road

Final approval for 133 homes on Kingsley Road in Harrogate has been delayed whilst more badger surveys are undertaken in the area.

Redrow Homes won outline planning permission to build the development on appeal in August 2020 after it was initially refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

As part of the application, the developer submitted two ecology studies that found there were four badger setts in the area but only one or two were still actively used.

A previous ecological study undertaken in 2019 by a different developer found no evidence of badgers.

Members of Kingsley Ward Action Group (KWAG) bought a trail cam, which is a camera that is left outside and captures the movement of animals.

They claim their investigation found evidence of 11 badger setts, six of which are still active.

Badger activity

Badgers and their setts are protected by law.

Developers must have a licence from Natural England to remove or modify a badger sett.

This afternoon, councillors on the council’s planning committee met to discuss a reserved matters application that dealt with the appearance and layout of the homes.

However, the four-legged mammals dominated the debate.

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To the north of the proposed site are train tracks owned by Network Rail.

Dan McAndrew, the council’s principal ecologist, said most of the badger setts are more than 30m away from the site on land owned by the rail body.

Mr McAndrew said he was satisfied the developer had put measures in place to protect the badgers.

He said:

“Badgers actually do well in urban fringe areas, they are able to adapt to those conditions. The key issue is, where are the setts located and can they be maintained?

“The main sett will not be affected and will be left in place.”

However, John Hansard from KWAG said his group’s badger surveys were at odds with the developer’s surveys. He criticised the 2019 survey.

He said:

“If you know what you’re looking for, signs of badger activity were plentiful, clear and unmissable, so why were they missed or ignored?”

‘Somebody has got to speak for the badgers’

Both Sue Lumby, Conservative member for Coppice Valley, and Victoria Oldham, Conservative member for Washburn, cast doubt on the developer’s claims that badgers would not be harmed by the development.

Cllr Lumby said:

“Somebody has got to speak for the badgers and that’s what we are trying to do.

“This population of badgers would have lived here for generations. I’m very, very concerned why the 2019 survey didn’t find any badgers.”

Cllr Oldham added:

“On the assumption you do get licence from Natural England, what mitigation are you prepared to offer for remaining badgers to forage? You are going to put tarmac, concrete where they like to dig for worms, for setts. What are you offering? What wildlife enhancement will there be on this estate?”

In response, Mike Ashworth, on behalf of Redrow Homes, said

“A significant area of site will be undeveloped and landscaped, 30% of the site, a lot more than a normal housing estate. In there you’d have a combination of planting of trees, wildflower, shrubs.”

An unimpressed Cllr Oldham responded:

“Badgers don’t eat pretty flowers, they like to eat worms.”

Further surveys

Mr Ashworth revealed the developer received permission from Network Rail last week to survey the land above the site for badgers.

After councillors rejected the council’s recommendation to approve the scheme, committee chair Cllr John Mann proposed deferment pending the publication of the badger survey, which councillors agreed to unanimously.