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06
Feb 2023
Two major Harrogate housing schemes set for go-ahead
Two major housing schemes in Harrogate look set to be approved.
Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee have been recommended to back 162 new homes on Kingsley Drive and 53 houses on Knox Lane at a meeting next Tuesday (February 14).
Both applications have proved controversial with local residents.
Persimmon Homes lodged the proposal for Kingsley Drive in December after its original plan for 181 homes was met with 222 letters of objection. A prior application for 222 homes was refused.
In documents submitted to the council, Persimmon said it had reduced the size in response to comments from the authority and “other third parties”.
Read more:
- Contamination concerns delay decision on 53-home Knox Lane site
- Developer reduces planned Kinglsey Drive scheme to 162 homes
Residents in the area have held long concerns about the amount of housebuilding in the area and its affect on traffic, noise, health and loss of green space.
In a report prepared in advance of next week’s meeting, council officers said the scheme would “make a valuable contribution to meeting the district’s housing need".
Officers have recommended the scheme be deferred to the executive officer for development management and building control for approval.
The site is included in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.
Case officer Kate Broadbank concludes:
Knox Lane
Councillors will also be recommended to approve plans for 53 homes on Knox Lane in Harrogate which have been submitted by developer Jomast.
The scheme has been met by opposition from residents, including campaigners Keep Knox Natural who took to Nidderdale Greenway, off Bilton Lane, dressed as woodland creatures to collect signatures for a petition last November.
Site layout for the Knox Lane scheme.
Councillors deferred the application in October last year amid concern over contamination in the area.
At the time, Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge, said much more work was needed on the proposals which he described as “wrong, wrong, wrong”. He said:
However, council officials have now said in a report prepared in advance of next week's meeting the “applicant has provided additional information in respect of potential ground contamination”.
Councillors have been recommended to approve the proposal subject to conditions being agreed.
The report, compiled by case officer Andy Hough, says:
The Conservative-controlled planning committee will vote next week whether to accept the officers' recommendations for the two housing schemes.
The meeting can be watched live at the council's Civic Centre or on its YouTube channel.
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