Burton Leonard housing development ‘could put farm out of business’

A grain farmer in Burton Leonard says the construction of 30 homes next door could put his family’s fourth-generation farm out of business.

Knaresborough-based Wharfedale Homes has submitted plans to build 30 homes on the site of the former Alfred Hymas haulage yard.

The plans are due to go before Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today.

When the planning committee previously considered the proposal in January, councillors asked for a noise report to be conducted after the adjacent Hammond grain farm raised concerns.

Wharfedale Homes subsequently undertook tests in July and August, which found that noise was at acceptable levels for development.

However, Sue Hammond, from JV Hammond & Sons, told the Stray Ferret the noise from machines was so loud it was similar to a helicopter running continuously, often until the early hours of the morning. She added that the noise tests were undertaken when the farm was quiet because it was a poor harvest.

Ms Hammond is concerned that if the development goes ahead, residents will make noise complaints against the farm and it will eventually get shut down.

She said:

“It will impact on our way of life and there won’t be a farming future for us if this development goes through.”

She said people buying the homes would have to endure loud machinery when the farmers process the grain.

“People that buy £500,000 houses who are having a barbecue and Pimm’s on the lawn don’t want to listen to us working away until 11pm at night.”

A spokesperson for Wharfedale Homes said:

“Wharfedale Homes have undertaken all the required assessments to ensure the proposed development would be built in compliance with all relevant local and national environmental regulations, as required under the statutory planning process.”

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According to Mrs Hammond, prior to Hymas selling the site for housing there was a good relationship between the two families, who would even go on holiday together.

She said if the development goes ahead it will be “devastating” for the prospects of her children, including her son Jake who this week started studying for an agriculture qualification at Askham Bryan College in York.

The Hymas family declined to comment.