Green Party amplifies anger over approval of major homes plan for Harrogate district village

Plans for 64 homes in Tockwith were last week given the go-ahead by Harrogate Borough Council despite pleas from residents that their local heritage is under threat from the construction of hundreds of homes already approved.

The Green Party's Arnold Warneken also spoke in objection to the Church Farm proposals with concerns over poor transport links and pollution in the parish, which was the first in North Yorkshire to declare a climate emergency.

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Mr Warneken made calls for all of the new homes to generate their own electricity and have electric vehicle charging points, but he did not receive the backing of councillors.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "Now that Tockwith Parish Council has become the first parish council in North Yorkshire to declare a climate emergency, this decision will make it harder to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030.

"We desperately need to become more forward-thinking if we are to avert further climate breakdown, and we need to do it now."

The planning application split upon a debate on the council's planning policy, which opposition members argue needs to be tightened up to demand more energy efficient homes.

Planning officer Nicholas Turpin said the policy can only "encourage" or "promote" greener homes and added it doesn't give councillors much power to reject applications on sustainability issues.

Coun Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, said she is “very unhappy” with the way the council has dealt with recent planning applications.

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The Church Farm development was brought before councillors in January but was deferred after concerns were raised around the density of housing.

Mark Blaine, an agent for the developers, last week told councillors the plans had been scaled back from 68 homes to 64, adding they will be built with the “highest standard of materials and design”.

The application from York-based house-builders Mulgrave Developments includes a mix of two, three and four-bed properties.

Councillors approved the application by seven votes to four at a meeting on 14 July.

Members of the Tockwith Residents Association had expressed their "deep disappointment" over the decision.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter