Councillors have approved plans by Rudding Park Hotel and Spa near Harrogate to a build a new golf clubhouse, family hub and four tennis courts and reinstate a walled garden.
North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee met in Northallerton this morning to consider the application, which the resort said will result in an additional 75 full-time jobs and lead to an extra £14.3 million being spent in the local area every year.
Planning documents said the current clubhouse was originally built as a temporary facility but had outgrown its useful life and “considerably discredits the course”.
The new two-storey building will include swimming pools, restaurants, a gym and changing rooms.
How the new clubhouse will look.
Another visual of the new clubhouse.
Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, told councillors the scheme would secure the future of the business.
He said:
“As owners, this application presents our family’s commitment to securing the long-term future of the site. The plans have been subject to much discussion with officers and consultees. It presents a unique opportunity to build on our past successes and provide high-quality facilities.”
The buildings will be constructed to the BREEAM ‘excellent’ environmental standard to put them in the top 10% of new buildings in the country.
Andy Brown, the Green Party councillor for Aire Valley, praised the scheme’s eco credentials.
He said:
“All too often we see developers pay lip service to biodiversity, sustainability and good design. I looked at this with a critical eye on those issues and was happy with what I saw.”
Green belt concerns
Rudding Park is a sprawling 300-acre estate three miles south of Harrogate. But because it sits on green belt land, planning policy only permits development in “very special circumstances”.
Neil Swannick, the Labour councillor for Whitby Streonshalh, said the positives did not outweigh the harm of building on the green belt.
He said:
“The economic benefits for the area are substantial, I recognise that, but will I support the building of a county club on the green belt? No, I won’t.”
However, Andrew Lee, the Conservatives and Independents group councillor for Appleton Roebuck and Church Fenton, argued the strict tests for building on green belt had been met.
He said:
“Yes, it’s in the green built but Rudding Park is an important local site and they’ve demonstrated a commitment to sustainable development.
“The economic benefits mean more jobs for the local area, a £14m additional boost to local economy and securing the site for future generations and users. Taking all those things into account, I’m comfortable that the impact on the green built has been sufficiently mitigated.”
Councillors voted to approve the application with conditions by 12 votes to 1.
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Rudding Park 10k race to return in spring
Rudding Park‘s 10k multi-terrain trail race is to return in May after a successful inaugural event last year.
Olympic triathlon gold medallist Jonny Brownlee started last year’s Rudding ParkRace, in which more than 300 runners navigated their way through 18th century parkland at the privately-owned Harrogate resort.
This year’s event, which will be held on May 9, will raise money in support of former Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow’s Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal.
There are 450 places available and the entry fee is £25 for affiliated runners and £27 for non-affiliated runner.
Jonny Brownlee at last year’s event.
Nuno César de Sá, Rudding Park hotel manager, said the 2022 race had a “great vibe”, adding:
“Rudding House made the perfect backdrop for the finish line where the prize giving took place as guests enjoyed music, hog roast and refreshments as the sun set.
“We were thrilled to raise over £4,000 for the Queen’s Green Canopy and this year we are super excited to be supporting Rob Burrow and his family whose tireless campaign to raise awareness and funds to support families living with MND is inspiring.”
The start of last year’s race.
Last year’s winner was Nathan Edmonson from Ilkley Harriers, who recorded a time of 34 mins 25 secs. The fastest female was Charlotte Mason from City of York AC in a time of 41 mins 29 secs.
More information is available here.
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