The owners of a business park in Follifoot have appealed a decision to refuse permission to expand onto green belt land.

Harrogate Borough Council rejected a plan to build two new buildings on Follifoot Ridge Business Park, which would have created space for five commercial units.

The development would have sat next to existing units (pictured above) previously allowed because they were classed as farm conversions.

The owners of the park said the new units would help to meet demand from businesses for more space.

Kim Eastwood, a planning agent for the business park, told the council in June that the development would have little impact on the area because the green belt land is already surrounded by existing units.

However, the council’s planning committee rejected the proposal. In its reason for refusal, the authority said:

“The application site is not considered previously developed land. The proposal is therefore inappropriate development which, by definition, is harmful to the green belt and it would also result in some limited harm to the openness of the green belt.

“Although the proposal would bring economic benefits it is not considered that ‘very special circumstances’ exist that clearly outweigh the potential harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness and the impacts on openness.”

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In its statement of case, the business park’s planning agent, ID Planning, said the development was not “inappropriate” and that it disagreed with the council’s conclusion.

It said:

“The appellant disagrees with the reason for refusal based on the development being inappropriate as the site is not brownfield land.

“The appellant considers that the site is brownfield land but notwithstanding this considers the development comprises limited infilling.”

How the business park would look with the commercial units built on the green belt land.

It added that the scheme had economic benefits and would not have an “impact on the openness of the green belt”.

“The development provides clear economic benefits set out in full in the planning statement and supported and acknowledged by the local planning authority which further support the appellants case for planning permission to be granted.”

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