Harrogate's worst burnt-out eyesore may be set for development

There may be hope at last for Harrogate residents living with one of the town's longest-running urban eyesores.
Set for redevelopment? Plans are finally coming together to do something about part of a Victorian building in Harrogate left derelict since a major blaze in 2018.Set for redevelopment? Plans are finally coming together to do something about part of a Victorian building in Harrogate left derelict since a major blaze in 2018.
Set for redevelopment? Plans are finally coming together to do something about part of a Victorian building in Harrogate left derelict since a major blaze in 2018.

Plans are finally coming together to do something about part of a Victorian building which housed a row of former shops which have been derelict on Starbeck High Street for two and a half years.

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Lib Dem councillor Philip Broadbank, who has represented the Starbeck ward on Harrogate Borough Counciil for many years, has been calling for action since a fire ripped through the empty building of what had formerly been McColl's store in early July 2018.

Although critical in the past of the slow pace of progress in doing something about such a prominent but roofless property whose burnt out beams have been exposed to the elements since then, Coun Broadbank says the building's owners have recently been in in pre-application talks with Borough Council planning officers regarding the site.

Coun Broadbank, who has played a purely monitoring role on behalf of local residents throughout the situation, said: "The site owners have submitted architects drawings and visuals for a proposed development which they intend to replace the existing buildings with.

"The intention is to submit an application but there are still some points to discuss with officers.

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"I am more hopeful of things moving towards some action but there are still some issues to sort out."

So fierce was the blaze in 2018, the first fire fighters to enter the building, which had been disused for some time, had to withdraw to protect their own safety.

Once the blaze was dealt with, however, there was no swift return to normality.

In the aftermath of the emergency incident, worried local residents complained they were in danger from the potential risk of falling debris as they walked past on their way down Starbeck High Street.

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In response, the authorities closed off a section of the footpath and the nearby pelican crossing for nearly six months.

Once finally made safe, the question remained what to do with the remains of the old store and how to redevelop it.

Coun Broadbank said: "Since the fire in July 2018, the building has been an eyesore on the High Street.

"Safety issues were looked at by the county and borough councils and, at the time, steps were taken to make the area safe and the High Street accessible to shoppers.

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"Behind the scenes the owners have been involved in talks about insurance.

"The police have been involved in issues on the site, and the site owners have been involved with architects to put forward some plans that would create a development that would be found to be acceptable in planning and financial terms and meet some local needs."

The result of all those discussions is as follows:

The proposed new development could potentially have retail /employment use on the ground floor with two storeys above involving mainly one bedroomed but some two bedroomed flats aimed at the first time buyer.

Coun Broadbank said: "This site is important to the High Street and we do need an acceptable development there as part of a general scheme to re-generate the area following the pandemic.

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"But I do believe that progress is being made and once the pre-app discussions have been concluded then an application should be submitted fairly quickly."

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