"Major concerns" as campaigners make final preparations in fight against Harrogate's Local Plan

The long-term blueprint - which sets out where thousands of homes and businesses are to be built in the district over the next 15 years - will go to the vote at a full council meeting on Wednesday, March 4.

It is designed to help the borough council meet its housing needs, but members of the Keep The Hammerton Green Action Group are making final preparations in their fight against it.

The campaign group are opposing plans for a huge settlement in the Hammerton and Cattal area, arguing Flaxby Park - a disused golf course near Knaresborough and Harrogate - is a better location.

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It comes after the Local Plan, which has been six years in the making, was last month concluded to be "sound" by a government planning inspector.

Chris Eaton, co-chair of the action group, said: “The planning inspector who examined the plan has only said he thought the process taken in forming the Local Plan and the proposal for a new settlement as part of that was sound.

"He felt the issue of its location was a matter for council planners judgement, and we believe there are still enough concerns about that decision for the full council to reject a new town of this size, even at this late stage."

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The council previously said adopting the plan will provide a "clear and robust framework for development in the future."

But the campaigners said their questions will raise "major concerns" about the environmental impact of huge building sites and the council's housing targets.

Mr Eaton said: “An oversupply of sites is common to most local plans to ensure enough houses are actually built. But that buffer is usually no more than 15 per cent above what is actually needed. The council is putting forward a 25 per cent oversupply, much more than is needed.

"The new settlement is the most contentious and damaging part of the plan and could be dropped without compromising its aims."