Plan to expand Harrogate housing site by almost 50% is 'entirely unacceptable', says councillor

Coun Geoff Webber said he has received several complaints from residents over property developer Jomast's proposals for Knox Lane.

The site was allocated for 52 homes in Harrogate Borough Council's Local Plan in spite of objections - and the number of proposed properties has now increased to 73.

Coun Webber said: “I was uncomfortable with the allocation of this land in the Conservative-run council's Local Plan, but this application for a further 23 dwellings is entirely unacceptable.

"I fully understand the concerns of local residents and will make sure those concerns are passed on to my Liberal Democrat colleagues on Harrogate council."

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More than 260 residents have objected to the plans with concerns over the impact on the local environment and infrastructure.

One resident said the Bilton area has "already been blitzed by hundreds of houses with no improved infrastructure."

Coun Webber added: “This is a special area adjacent to Oak Beck and further development will have an adverse impact on the environment and wildlife – not to mention the area's considerable propensity to flooding.”

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The plans include a mix of two, three and four-bed houses and apartments, with access from Knox Lane.

A joint statement from Jomast and Spawforths, the planning consultants, said: "It is acknowledged that 21 dwellings would be located on land that falls outside of the allocation.

"However all these dwellings would be brought forward as affordable housing to help meet a significant on-going shortage for this type of housing within the district."

It added: "We appreciate that a number of local residents have expressed concerns about the impact on traffic, ecology and flooding.

"However the planning application is supported by a suite of technical reports including a transport assessment, ecological impact assessment, and flood risk assessment.

"These specialist reports demonstrate that the proposed development would not have a significant impact on the local environment and would actually improve the situation in respect to ecology and flooding."

A decision on the plans from Harrogate Borough Council is expected this summer.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter

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