North Yorkshire Council is set to adopt a policy designed to prevent light pollution in Nidderdale.
Astronomers commissioned by Nidderdale AONB — which has since been renamed Nidderdale National Landscape — in spring 2022 found the night skies in the north west of the area, including Upper Nidderdale and moorland near Masham, are some of the least affected by light pollution in England.
With this in mind, the council drew up a Nidderdale AONB-specific supplementary planning document for its Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can occur.
The policy was first devised by the former Harrogate Borough Council in February 2023. Senior councillors on North Yorkshire Council are now expected to adopt the plan.
The document, once adopted, will be used as a “material consideration” by councillors when deciding on planning applications in the area.
Among its key objectives include introducing a “zoning scheme” to protect the darker skies in Nidderdale.
It also recommends that external lights in the darkest zone, which includes Upper Nidderdale, should only have 500 lumens, which is a measurement of visible light to the human eye.
The document adds that light pollution from farm and commercial buildings is “the most obvious source” of light pollution in the darkest zone of the AONB.
Senior councillors will be asked to adopt the policy document at an executive meeting on May 7.
Read more:
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Harrogate clothes shop closes for refurbishment
A prominent James Street store has closed to undergo refurbishment.
The unit at 20-22 James Street houses two shops, Monsoon, with the James Street entrance and sister shop, Accessorize with the Marketplace store front.
Monsoon & Accessorize is currently closed, but the Stray Ferret understands the store is due to reopen after a refit.
The store is listed as permanently closed on Google, which raised confusion around the shop returning.
The Stray Ferret contacted the company for confirmation but Monsoon Accessorize declined to comment, stating that commenting on shop openings and closures is against company policy.
The women’s fashion retailer currently has notices displayed in both windows, which say “sorry, we’re closed but this isn’t goodbye forever” and “be right back”.
It comes as the company submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council for new signage this year.
London based Adena Services Ltd applied for a ‘halo lit fascia signage to existing retail unit’. The new signage is proposed to be coral, gold and illuminated.
Proposed shop front
The unit is the second shop on James Street to have closed for refit and later appear on Commercial Rightmove in recent weeks.
The Rightmove listing describes the site as:
“Available on a new full repairing and insuring lease for a term of years to be agreed in multiples of 5 with 5 yearly upward only rent reviews.”
The closed sign currently displayed in Monsoon’s window
The company behind Monsoon Accessorize was founded in the 1970s but went into administration in 2020 due to trading issues during the pandemic and closed multiple stores across the country.
The Harrogate store survived the closures after company founder Peter Simon brought Monsoon Accessorize out of administration.
Accessorize storefront Harrogate
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Birchfield Farm to get jam, honey and cake production building
Plans to create a new building for producing jam, honey and cakes at Birchfield Farm at Summerbridge have been approved by North Yorkshire Council.
The proposed single storey facility will complement the farm’s existing tea room and ice cream parlour.
Birchfield Farm is a family run working farm between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge with a range of children’s attractions, including sheep, pigs, goats, and donkeys. It also offers lamb feeding, a maze and ‘pick your own’ events including strawberries and a pumpkin festival.
Plans were submitted on behalf of the applicant by Skipton based rural property planning and development specialists David Hill.
Plans submitted to the council said:
“Over the past few years, the applicant has expanded the farming enterprise to meet demand, by increasing stock numbers and erecting new buildings, as well as improving the onsite ice cream parlour and tearoom.
“The proposal will create an area for producing jam, honey and baked goods as part of the existing farm diversification. This will support the existing business as well as helping the rural economy through the sale of the produce made on the farm.
“Jam will be made from the fruit grown on the farm and honey made from the bees kept on the farm.”
The building, which will measure 11.4 metres by 6.3 metres, will be situated in a concrete yard next to a farm building.
Case officer Edward Bainbridge’s planning report said:
“When assessing the development against the relevant policies and guidance highlighted above it is considered that the overall landscape and visual impact of the proposal, including its impact on the AONB is acceptable.”
The Stray Ferret has approached Birchfield Farm for comment.
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