Revealed: Date for West Harrogate Parameters Plan's completion to deal with thousands of new houses

Parliament Street row: Highways boss rules out new study into two-way traffic on A61 in Harrogate

It matters because the west side of Harrogate currently finds itself with around a quarter of the entire Local Plan housing allocations for the district - at around 3,500 to 4,000 new houses - a situation parish councils and residents groups such as HAPARA argue cries out for new infrastructure sooner rather than later.

Harrogate Borough Council s confirmation to the Harrogate Advertiser of the forthcoming completion of the West Harrogate Parameters Plan follows the latest controversy at its planning committee over new housing in the area.

A decision on controversial plans for 200 homes at a former police training base at Pannal Ash in Harrogate has been deferred while a key report on how the wider area will cope with thousands of new residents is completed.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee decided last week to go against a recommendation of approval and instead voted narrowly to delay a decision on the Yew Tree Lane site after residents and councillors warned the West Harrogate Parameters Plan was crucial to a decision.

Objecting to the 200 homes, David Siddans, secretary of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents’ Association (HAPARA), told last week’s meeting residents were “dismayed” that the application was being considered at this time before the parameters plan had been completed which will ensure that infrastructure is provided to meet demand created by housing growth to the west of Harrogate.

Mr Siddans said: “You are told that the parameters plan is a material consideration when it comes to assessing this application, the problem is, at this point in time, there is no parameters plan.

“We know when it comes the plan will be wide ranging. What we don’t know is what will be in the parameters plan when it is approved.”

But Harrogate Borough Council told the Harrogate Advertiser this week that they expected to complete the West Harrogate Parameters Plan (WHPP) well before winter this year.

A council spokesperson said: “The WHPP will include new education facilities, local shops, sports facilities, green space and parks, highways infrastructure and sustainable transport options.

“Work started on it last year and we have been working closely with North Yorkshire County Council, other infrastructure providers, the site promoters and parish councils to identify the infrastructure requirements, how they will be delivered and who will pay for it. We expect the plan to be finalised by autumn.”

Harrogate's new digital radio revolution as Your Harrogate makes bid to Ofcom

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.