Consultation on 1,300-home Ripon Barracks development extended

Consultation on the proposed 1,300-home Ripon Barracks development has been extended until Wednesday next week.

People who wish to comment on the proposed 1,300-home Ripon Barracks development now have until Wednesday next week to make their views known to .

Harrogate Borough Council has confirmed to Ripon City Council that its request for an extension to the consultation period on the major planning application, has been agreed. The original closing date for comments was February 17.

So far 178 comments have been submitted — 148 by members of the public and 30 by consultees, such as heritage and business organisations.

Independent city council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“This is the biggest single residential development in Ripon’s history.

“It is important for as many people, as possible — in particular local residents — to have the opportunity to make their views known.”

Transport assessment

The city council voted unanimously at its February meeting to call for an urgent extension after discovering that a transport assessment for the Homes England scheme was belatedly published on the Harrogate Borough Council planning portal.

It meant anyone who commented on the outline planning application prior to February 3 did not have the opportunity to see the amended transport assessment document before submitting their views.

This effectively meant that the document was only available to read for 15 of the 30 days that the consultation period was initially set to run.

Cllr Williams said:

“On the doorstep, the major concern from the people that councillors have spoken with since the barracks development was first mooted has been traffic and what mitigation measures are proposed to ensure that Ripon doesn’t find itself gridlocked by the increased volume of vehicles that this and other housing development will generate.

“That is why the city council commissioned its own report from a traffic consultant, that can be submitted as part of the consultation process.

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The transport assessment in support of the Homes England development states:

“The proposed mitigation measures for the Ripon Barracks site include a wide range of improvements not just in the vicinity of the development itself, but also throughout the western side of the city and into the city centre itself.

“These measures include; the implementation of pedestrian and cyclist improvements by implementing mitigation measures such as traffic calming on Clotherholme Road and Kirkby Road; the introduction of a one way system involving Kirkby Road, College Road and Trinity Lane to accommodate on road cycling while maintaining car parking along College Road; the provision of a gateway junction including segregated cycling facilities at the primary Kirkby Road access to the site; junction mitigation measures to alleviate traffic congestion at key city centre junctions and provide enhanced pedestrian crossing facilities; measures to prevent rat running; and proposed contributions to public transport bus services.