PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS
Two large developments are subject to ongoing planning applications.
Stockeld Park / Spofforth Hill planning application.
A protracted planning application to build 210 new houses on the North Yorkshire side of the boundary with Wetherby was once more the subject of a hearing by Harrogate Planning Committee on 17th September 2019.
Having attracted well over 300 objections, it was initially rejected by the Planning Committee in August 2018. However, just a few weeks later on 25th September, the application was taken back before the Committee who overturned their initial decision and approved the application.
Since that time a great deal of effort has been made by Better Wetherby to have this decision reversed. As a result, Harrogate Planners reconsidered the situation and recommended rejection of the application. The Planning Committee voted unanimously on 17th September to accept this recommendation.
Hallam Land Management, the agents for Stockeld Park, have formally launched an appeal and the application will now be subject to a Public Inquiry in Harrogate starting on 17th December 2019.
Many local people attended the Planning Committee hearing, an indication of the strength of local feeling and opposition to the development. In thanking them for attending, Peter Swales, Chair of Better Wetherby said ‘Although the decision today is welcome, there is no room for complacency. It is particularly disappointing that Stockeld Park and Hallam Land Management are appealing the decision. This will now result in an expensive Public Inquiry, prolonging the uncertainty and concern for local people in Wetherby and nearby villages.’
Mr. Swales added, ‘This development is unwelcome and totally unsuitable. It will transform and harm the landscape, character and local environment in a wholly negative way and will add to existing highways, congestion and air pollution problems in the town, as well as placing further pressure on already overstretched schools, doctors and other local services. ‘Better Wetherby will be continuing our efforts and working to support Harrogate District Council at the Public Inquiry to fight the appeal by the developers.’
Two large developments are subject to ongoing planning applications.
- The first relates to an application by Hallam Land Management and Stockeld Park (ref: 17/01897/OUTMAJ) to Harrogate Borough Council to build 210 homes at the top of Spofforth Hill, on the Harrogate side of the council boundary with West Yorkshire. There are serious concerns that the scale of this development will have a major and negative impact on Wetherby and its surrounding villages.
- The second major application has been made to Leeds City Council Planning Services by Taylor Wimpey to build a large residential development, comprising 800 dwellings and associated infrastructure, on land off Racecourse Approach near Wetherby (Leeds Planning Services Case No: 17/02594/OT). Another building application to build a further 300 homes on the Racecourse Approach site by Persimmon is in the pipeline.
Stockeld Park / Spofforth Hill planning application.
A protracted planning application to build 210 new houses on the North Yorkshire side of the boundary with Wetherby was once more the subject of a hearing by Harrogate Planning Committee on 17th September 2019.
Having attracted well over 300 objections, it was initially rejected by the Planning Committee in August 2018. However, just a few weeks later on 25th September, the application was taken back before the Committee who overturned their initial decision and approved the application.
Since that time a great deal of effort has been made by Better Wetherby to have this decision reversed. As a result, Harrogate Planners reconsidered the situation and recommended rejection of the application. The Planning Committee voted unanimously on 17th September to accept this recommendation.
Hallam Land Management, the agents for Stockeld Park, have formally launched an appeal and the application will now be subject to a Public Inquiry in Harrogate starting on 17th December 2019.
Many local people attended the Planning Committee hearing, an indication of the strength of local feeling and opposition to the development. In thanking them for attending, Peter Swales, Chair of Better Wetherby said ‘Although the decision today is welcome, there is no room for complacency. It is particularly disappointing that Stockeld Park and Hallam Land Management are appealing the decision. This will now result in an expensive Public Inquiry, prolonging the uncertainty and concern for local people in Wetherby and nearby villages.’
Mr. Swales added, ‘This development is unwelcome and totally unsuitable. It will transform and harm the landscape, character and local environment in a wholly negative way and will add to existing highways, congestion and air pollution problems in the town, as well as placing further pressure on already overstretched schools, doctors and other local services. ‘Better Wetherby will be continuing our efforts and working to support Harrogate District Council at the Public Inquiry to fight the appeal by the developers.’
Racecourse Approach Planning Application
On Thursday, 29 August 2019, after a hearing lasting 3 hours, and in spite of the developer not meeting specified requirements from an earlier hearing, Leeds City Council Plans Panel approved an outline planning application by developers, Taylor Wimpey, to build 800 new houses on land adjacent to Racecourse Approach, which forms the first part of an 1,100 houses development..
Wetherby Ward Councillor Alan Lamb, together with local residents, Peter Catton and Ingrid McLaughlin, speaking on behalf of Better Wetherby, argued that the application was flawed in several areas. Problems highlighted included lack of access to the site from York Road, lack of public transport, concerns about road safety and pressures upon already overstretched local services including health and schools.
Of serious concern was the likely impact of increased traffic from the development adding to already major problems of congestion and lack of parking spaces in the Town, with the associated harmful impact of air pollution caused by emissions from these additional vehicles on the health and wellbeing of local people. Climate change challenges and efforts to reduce carbon in new housing developments were also raised.
However, despite concerns, a majority of the Panel voted to support a motion by Labour Councillor Peter Gruen that the matter be delegated to the Chief Planning Officer with a directing proviso that no work could commence until outstanding major issues, especially relating to access had been resolved.
Councillor Alan Lamb said “The Panel gave us a fair hearing but, unfortunately, voting was on party political lines, with the majority Labour members all voting to accept the planning application. Fortunately, they accepted our arguments on the requirement that vehicular access was needed from York Road before development could take place and that a consultative panel would be set up to allow local interests to ensure that the development would meet Wetherby’s requirements.”
After the meeting, Peter Catton of Better Wetherby said “We won the battle today, but sadly we have lost the war. Our attractive and historic market town will be the poorer for this decision.
