The government is set to hear two appeals for motorway service stations to be built in the Harrogate district.
Separate proposals would see services built along the A1(M): one at Kirby Hill, between junctions 48 and 49 and the other near Ripon at junction 50.
Both developers, Applegreen and Moto Hospitality, have appealed the decisions by Harrogate Borough Council to refuse the plans.
A spokesperson for the Planning Inspectorate, the government agency that deals with planning appeals, said the first inquiry for Kirby will be held in February and the second will follow shortly afterwards.
The spokesperson said that both would be considered by one inspector “in the interests of efficiency” as they have common issues and are within the same authority area.
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Both applications were met with a backlash from residents.
Kirky Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, a residents group set up to oppose a service station near the village, says the scheme is “socially and environmentally irresponsible” and has called for Applegreen to drop its plans.
The plan was rejected in November 2019 and an appeal was due to be heard this year, but was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Moto Hospitality’s plans for a new filling station, small hotel, food and retail unit were rejected by councillors in October.
Hewick and Hutton Parish Council objected to the plans and said there was “no need” for another service station.
In a decision notice explaining its refusal, the borough council said:
“The proposal is outside development limits and represents an unsustainable development that would result in a significant encroachment into open countryside causing harm to the landscape in conflict with policies EC3 (A & C), GS3 and NE4 of the Harrogate District Local Plan.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Moto for comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Applegreen said previously it was not appropriate to comment until the appeal had been heard.
