Tesco has revealed its latest plans for the firm’s forthcoming Harrogate supermarket.
The company received outline planning permission in February to build a store, petrol station and a 209-space car park on the site of the former gas works at the junction of Skipton Road and King’s Road.
It has now submitted details of the measures it proposes to take to mitigate against the ecological impact, as well as a flood risk assessment and a risk assessment relating to a high pressure gas pipeline on site.
The ecological mitigation plan, compiled by Oxfordshire firm Aspect Ecology on behalf of Tesco, says “initial vegetation clearance works are proposed to be undertaken during January to March 2024”, prior to the bird nesting season. It adds:
“The majority of the habitats present within the site are of limited ecological value, and a large proportion of these habitats are to be replaced by development or landscaping under the permitted development.
“The mature trees, woodland and watercourse are of greater ecological value and will be largely retained within the permitted scheme.”
The report says measures will be implemented to safeguard species such as hedgehogs.
An artist’s impression of how the Tesco will look.
Oak Beck runs along the eastern boundary of the three-hectare site, which will be accessed off Skipton Road.
The flood risk assessment prepared by London firm Pinnacle Consulting Engineers on behalf of Tesco assesses the flood risk to be low on the majority of the land but high on a ‘proportionately small area in the north of the site’.
It says the area is currently a mixture of asphalt, concrete, and grassed surfaces.
The report concludes:
“The site is at a low risk of flooding from all sources except for fluvial flooding in the north and south of the site.
“The fluvial flooding in the north of the site will not pose a significant risk to the development. The fluvial flooding in the south is associated with an old gas tank and will be regraded as part of the development and therefore will no longer pose a flooding issue.
“Overall, the proposed development is appropriate from a flood risk perspective and the sequential test.”
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The gas pipe assessment, conducted by Essex firm MJC Environmental Services on behalf of Tesco, concludes “risk levels are considered to be as low as reasonably practicable and further risk mitigation is not required”.
The latest details have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council as reserved matters planning applications.
The outline permission granted in February established the principle of development for the site; the reserved matters applications determine the layout and design.
The council must now decide whether to accept the reserved matters applications.
