Harrogate residents' complaints over plans to 'decimate' parkland used by the community

Devonshire Gardens Residents Association, which represents more than 100 residents, claims the new access road, planned by house builders Redrow as part of the 95-house Granby Farm development, would fly in the face of the original site requirements and “decimate” Pickering Gardens.

Mark Tordoff, chairperson of Devonshire Gardens Residents Association, said: “The park was hard fought for.

"The park was finally ready for use by residents, some 18 months later than it should have been, in spring 2019.

“It is only just beginning to settle down and mature and Redrow wants to decimate it by the construction of a new road with associated verges and footpaths serving 95 homes.

“Residents of Devonshire Gardens have no objection to the construction of necessary new homes on the Granby Farm site but feel that this should not be at the expense of our park; particularly when an alternative access onto Kingsley Drive is identified in the recently-adopted Local Plan.”

Redrow told the Harrogate Advertiser that its planning application at Granby Farm was progressing as advertised and the possible access road had been identified in its publicity for the development.

Sarah Carr, land and planning director for Redrow in Yorkshire, said: “We have a full planning application in for 95 new homes on a site that is allocated for housing in the adopted local plan.

“The proposed access is via our existing Devonshire Gardens development and cuts through a small section of the public open space.

“We were aware at the time of the potential for future development so made sure that this was clearly visible in our marketing materials for Devonshire Gardens, as well as briefing purchasers at the point of reservation.”

The parkland in question is located at the eastern end of Sanders Walk and is public open space available to the wider local community.

Resident Mrs L Jane Tankard said: "The majority of houses on the Devonshire Gardens development have extremely small gardens and all the 32 apartments no outside space at all.

"Hence why the current communal open park space was a planning condition for the Devonshire Gardens development (protected by a Section 106 Agreement), which residents plus the wider local community could use.

"It has proved to be an important community asset, extremely well-used, providing a valuable safe area with no traffic; for children to play, families to relax, socialise and hold community events and activities.

"Although at the time of purchasing our property there was no apparent prospect of Granby Farm being developed, as it had a long history of being protected from development as a designated ‘green wedge’, I appreciate that Harrogate needs more homes.

"But surely Harrogate Borough Council should stand by the provisions of its own planning agreements, to ensure they are maintained into the future for their original purpose and the needs of existing residents respected?"

Earlier this month an objection was submitted on behalf of Devonshire residents to Harrogate Borough Council by Richard Clark of Arrowsmith Associates (Chartered Town Planners) on behalf of Devonshire Gardens Residents’ Association.

The objection to planning application 20/01556/FULMAJ, is about a possible access road for the erection of 95 dwellings at Granby Farm, Harrogate.

Where now for Harrogate's much-loved St Mary's Church after decades of decline and deterioration

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.