Decision on 1,300-home Ripon barracks scheme could be made this month
A decision on whether to build a major 1,300-home scheme on an army barracks in Ripon could be made within weeks.
The scheme, which has been submitted by government housing agency Homes England, would see houses built on Claro Barracks off Clotherholme Road.
The proposal was submitted to Harrogate Borough Council in September 2020, but has yet to be decided.
Council officials have now said the scheme could come to the authority’s planning committee this month after negotiations over NHS contributions were nearing an end.
Trevor Watson, the council’s director of economy and culture, told an overview and scrutiny commission meeting on Monday that developer contributions for health was the “last big issue” to overcome.
He said:
“We are confident that we are now approaching the final negotiations in relation to what was the last big issue that has caused a few problems.
“That is the level of contributions towards health provision. We are nearing an agreement on that, I think.
“That will allow us to bring forward the application for determination by Harrogate Borough Council at a special planning committee, we hope on February 23 and we also hope with a recommendation of approval.”
Claro Barracks
Mr Watson added the scheme was a “once in a generation opportunity” to develop a brownfield site included in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.
Harrogate Borough Council will be abolished at the end of next month and succeeded by the new North Yorkshire Council.
The negotiations over developer contributions come after NHS managers in North Yorkshire objected to the scheme because of concerns about the amount of funding that would be provided for local healthcare.
In a letter to the council, Andrew Dangerfield, head of primary care transformation at NHS Humber & North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, said the method used by Homes England to assess healthcare need as a result of the new homes was “at odds” with the NHS.
He added the developer had offered “zero” section 106 contributions to help mitigate demand as a result of increased population due to the scheme.
“The integrated care board is concerned about Homes England’s overall approach to health, they have sought to provide zero section 106 contributions towards the provision of healthcare infrastructure on a development of significant scale (circa 3,000 people), using a methodology which is at odds with the NHS commissioners and local healthcare partners.
“The integrated care board, who has direct expert knowledge of the local surgeries in the area and is responsible for the commissioning of healthcare services have consistently outlined that the existing practices do not have capacity to absorb the population created by the 1,300 homes coming forward as part of this application, and therefore have requested mitigation in the form of a section 106 contribution.”
Mr Dangerfield added that should no contributions towards healthcare be made, then the development “cannot be considered sustainable”.
In October 2020, NHS North Yorkshire CCG – which preceded the integrated care board – said in a letter to the borough council that it was seeking £553,128 from Homes England in contributions to health.
The planned homes in Ripon will include a significant number of two and three-bedroom mid-range houses and will include apartments in the centre.
It also includes a community centre, employment space, shops, parkland, a new primary school and sports facilities.
Body found in search for missing Ripon man
A body has been found in the search for missing Ripon man Gavin Dhont.
Mr Dhont, 45, was reported missing on December 13, after last being seen in the city on December 6.
North Yorkshire Police said this afternoon a body recovered from the River Ure on January 29 had been identified as Mr Dhont.
A brief police statement said:
“A body recovered from the River Ure on 29 January 2023 has been identified as Gavin Dhont, a Ripon man who was reported missing on 13 December 2022.
“Mr Dhont’s family have been informed and we would ask that their privacy is respected.”
Clothing retailer M&Co is set to shut its Ripon branch.
The Scottish company, which sells clothes and homeware, went into administration for a second time in December last year.
The Ripon store had previously been saved from closure in 2020 when the firm went through a financial restructure.
However, M&Co is set to close all of its outlets after the sale of the retailer to AK Retail Holdings did not include physical stores.
The closures were announced in social media posts by individual branches across the UK.
It said:
“Unfortunately we haven’t received the news we would have hoped for during our administration period, and would like to share this news with you.
“As we haven’t received any funded, deliverable offers that would result in the transfer of the company’s stores or staff to a potential buyer, this means that all of our stores will close.”
The company has 170 stores nationwide and employs some 1,900 staff.
Joint administrators Gavin Park, Adele MacLeod and Rob Harding of Teneo Financial Advisory Limited were appointed to oversee the retailer in December 2022.
Speaking at the time, Mr Park said M&Co had seen increasing costs at a time of decline in “customer confidence”.
He said:
“Like many retailers, the Company has experienced a sharp rise in its input costs, which has coincided with a decline in consumer confidence leading to trading challenges.
“Despite a very loyal customer base, particularly in local markets, and a well-recognised brand, the current economic outlook has placed increasing pressure on the Company’s cash position.”
New plans submitted for redevelopment of former Ripon timber yard site
A new planning application has been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council for redevelopment of the former North Yorkshire Timber yard on Trinity Lane in Ripon.
Site owner Red Tree Developments Ltd is seeking consent for the change of use and conversion of the former warehouse space to form 12 houses.
Approval is also requested for construction of two further dwellings on the 0.64 acre plot, which was home to a timber yard from 1860 to 2018.
The application includes plans for formation of access onto Trinity Lane, along with associated landscaping and parking provision.
In a previous application submitted in September 2020, Red Tree sought permission to demolish buildings on the site to make way for 13 new homes.
That application was refused by council planners in December 2020 and last month an appeal against the refusal decision was lodged with the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
Planning consent was refused on the grounds that the scheme would cause “unacceptable harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area, but Jay Everett, a planning consultant who submitted the appeal on behalf of Red Tree, argued that the loss of the existing building would cause ‘less than substantial harm’ to the conservation area.
The newly-submitted application would see retention and regeneration of the former warehouse building and the design and access statement in support of the submissions, says:
“The re-submitted scheme seeks to create 14 new dwellings of a size which will make them ideally suited to a wide range of residents from professional couples to retirees.
“They will be suitably priced such that they will likely appeal to first-time buyers, while the south-facing front gardens and proximity to the local school, nursery, shopping areas and parks will also make them attractive to families.”
Business Breakfast: Ripon engineering firm partners with The British Heart Foundation
The Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis, will be held on March 9 at the Pavilions of Harrogate. Early bird tickets are available until February 9. The event will celebrate success and business excellence across the Harrogate district. It’s a night not to be missed! There’ll be a fabulous prize draw for all attending and Richard Flinton, the incoming Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Council, is guest speaker.
Econ Engineering has launched a new charity partnership with The British Heart Foundation. The Ripon engineering firm makes more than eight out of 10 winter maintenance vehicles on UK roads.
The charity partnership will run throughout February – National Heart Month – until the end of 2023, with the aim to raise £20,000.
The money raised by Econ will help the BHF to fund research into heart and circulatory conditions such as coronary heart disease, strokes and vascular dementia.
Econ’s involvement with the charity stemmed from the death of one of the company’s managing directors, Andrew Lupton, who suffered a heart attack last year.
Andrew’s brother, Jonathan, who is now the sole managing director of the firm, said:
“We are proud to be partnering with the British Heart Foundation and are looking forward to supporting with its ongoing campaign to beat heartbreak forever”.
Employees will have the opportunity to participate in several BHF-supported health and wellbeing engagement activities, to ensure a healthier workforce.
For the last decade, the chamber has taken orders for baskets directly from shop keepers. It has subsidised the cost to members and charged non-members the price charged by the council.
But the council has set up an online payment system this year and the chamber is concerned it might lead to a lower take-up.
Chamber member and hairdresser, Kelly Teggin, who was in charge of basket sales last year, said:
“The town looks so lovely when it’s in full bloom. I fear if it’s left to the shop keepers, we may not see as many baskets, so we want to encourage it as much as possible.”
Hair & beauty salon, Kelly Teggin, displaying its hanging basket.
Harrogate Restaurant Week: keep your tummy and bank balance happy
On Monday 5 February, Harrogate Restaurant Week will begin. Restaurants in and around Harrogate are taking part in a promotional week, serving up some tasty discounts and helping us enjoy the luxury of dining out for less.
Restaurant Week is running from Monday 6 – Friday 10 February.
To help you save your pennies, we have curated a list of six participating restaurants and their Restaurant Week offers.
The Fat Badger
The Fat Badger is offering a homemade pie with a pint of bitter for just £10 during the promotional week.
Customers can enjoy a hearty steak, mushroom and ale pie, washed down with Tetley’s Best.
For more information on the restaurant, visit here.
The West Park Hotel
The West Park Hotel is offering two courses for £15, or three courses for £20 during Restaurant Week.
Customers can choose their courses from the new Restaurant Week menu.
The West Park Hotel will have a specific Restaurant Week menu.
Cosy Club
Cosy Club is offering customers a main and dessert for £15.
The Restaurant Week menu includes buttermilk fried chicken with fries, coleslaw and smoked red pepper aioli, along with a vegan baked vanilla cheesecake with raspberries.
Ripon’s ‘Stonehenge of the north’ gifted to nation
A monument over 5,000 years old between Ripon and Masham is set to open to the public free of charge.
The Thornborough Henges complex includes three large circular earthworks each more than 100 metres in diameter.
Historic England described the Neolithic site as “probably the most important single ancient site between Stonehenge and the Orkney Islands in Scotland”.
Construction firms Tarmac and Lightwater Holdings have gifted the site into the legal ownership of Historic England, which is a non-departmental public body, although it will be managed by the charity English Heritage.
The site is is located near West Tanfield, between Ripon and Masham, just outside the Harrogate district.
It falls within the Richmond constituency of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said:
“The Thornborough Henges site has enormous potential to help tell the story of ancient Britain and I very much welcome this announcement about its future – its safeguarding and preservation for the nation.
“Comparatively few people are aware of its significance – both locally and nationally. I hope many more will come to appreciate this little-known gem of our history and while doing so provide a welcome boost to the local visitor economy.”
Historic England said in a statement:
“The earthworks are thought to have been part of a ritual landscape and are probably the most important single ancient site between Stonehenge and the Orkney Islands in Scotland.”
Thornborough Henges will join various Roman sites on Hadrian’s Wall and Stonehenge within the National Heritage Collection.
The deal started to come to fruition in 2016 and has finally been settled after years of controversy over quarrying in the surrounding area of the monument.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England said:
Thornborough Henges and their surrounding landscape form part of the most important concentration of Neolithic monuments in the north of England. They are a link to our ancient ancestors, through thousands of years, inspiring a sense of wonder and mystery. We are thrilled to have acquired this highly significant site for the nation, ensuring that these magnificent monuments are safe and will be preserved for generations to come.
Demolition of four sinkhole-hit Ripon homes ready to begin
The demolition of a block of four empty Ripon homes affected by subsidence and sinkhole issues will begin shortly, taking up to seven weeks for completion.
The properties at 1, 3 and 5 Bedern Court and 17 Skellgarths were evacuated in October 2020 after being deemed unsafe for habitation.
“The work will be carried out by a team of four using hand-held tools.”
“Following a fortnight of preparation, which has involved erection of scaffolding and putting fencing in place, we anticipate completion over the next six to seven weeks.”
Site safety signage is in place
Mr Hutchinson added:
“We will be using a cherry picker for the removal of roof tiles and they, along with bricks, timber and other materials will be removed from the site and recycled.”
Neighbouring residents have been contacted and advised that the demolition will be carried out Monday to Friday between the hours of 7.45am and 4.30pm
Photographer captures spectacular starling murmuration at Ripon wetlands
A photographer has captured stunning images of a starling murmuration at Ripon wetlands.
Andy O’Brien shot the pictures last week at the site, which is part of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
He said the spectacle had become a regular occurrence and that local bird watchers estimated that some 150,000 starlings can be seen at the wetlands.
Mr O’Brien, who shared the pictures with the Stray Ferret, said:
“It’s virtually an evening occurrence at the moment and incredibly spectacular not just visually but the noise of the birds turning sounds like waves crashing against rocks.”
You can watch the murmuration at Ripon below.
The images come as today marks World Wetlands Day, an initiative aimed at raising global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and the planet.
Rachael Bice, chief executive of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, said it was important to celebrate and protect wetlands, such as the one in Ripon.
She said:
“Today is the day for celebrating our beautiful and wilder wetlands in all of their bountiful variety. A home for wildlife from the common frog right through to the rare bittern and water vole, wetlands are abundant in wildlife.
“Lush pools, lakes and ponds, fringed by golden reeds, meadow or woodland are vital in helping us adapt better to a changing climate, and provide a peaceful place for restoration and relaxation.”
Further delay to installation of temporary gym at Ripon leisure centre
Six months after Harrogate Borough Council announced plans to open a temporary gym at Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon, there is no confirmed date for its installation.
In a statement to the Stray Ferret, a council spokesperson said:
“To ensure residents can keep fit and active, while we carry out ground stabilisation works, a temporary gym is due to be installed at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon.
“We are awaiting the final programme for the ground stabilisation works before announcing further news on when the temporary gym will open.
“Until this time, customers can continue to (use) the existing gym at the leisure and wellness centre.
“We hope to have further news in the coming weeks.”
On July 28 last year, the council said it had submitted a planning application to install the temporary structure on the car park next to the centre’s main entrance and added that it would open in the autumn at a date to be confirmed.
In December a spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:
“I’m led to believe the temporary gym will not require planning permission now and we’ll be looking at installing the temporary gym in the new year (date TBC).
“Ahead of opening, we’ll be making all customers/members aware.”
Since the December statement, the Stray Ferret has contacted the council in a bid to find out when the gym will be installed and ready for use.
In the meantime, the existing gym on site located on the upper floor of the 1995 leisure centre building — where remedial ground stabilisation works are due to take place at a cost of £3.5 million — remains open.
At the time of the council’s announcement in July, Cllr Stanley Lumley, the cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, the council-controlled leisure company which runs the centre, said:
“By providing a temporary gym, while the ground stabilisation works take place, we can minimise the disruption to current and potential customers and ensure they can continue to maintain their health and wellbeing goals.”
The need for ground stabilisation works follows the discovery of a void under part of the existing leisure centre understood to have been present for a number of years.
It was discovered when the reinforced concrete slab for the new swimming pool was cast.
The temporary gym will include equipment currently available in the existing leisure and wellness centre and expert advice and guidance will be provided by members of the Brimhams Active team.
Customers will be able to use the changing and shower facilities in the new pool area – as well as the sauna and steam suite – which opened in March and group exercise classes will also continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.
