Kings Meadow View
Residential development of land west of Kings Meadow Close and Kings Meadow View, Aire Road, Wetherby. The site has previously been promoted for around 120–127 dwellings, most notably through a pre‑planning public consultation in 2017 and, more recently, through Leeds City Council’s Call for Sites process.
The site lies between Wetherby (West Yorkshire) and Kirk Deighton (North Yorkshire) and would result in the physical coalescence of two currently distinct settlements.
Latest Update September 2025 – Site included in Leeds City Council’s Call for Sites consultation (Site Ref: LPS00369). Better Wetherby continues to oppose the site’s allocation for housing.
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Documents & References
Better Wetherby’s View
Our Position
Better Wetherby opposes residential development on the Kings Meadow View site.
The group’s view has remained consistent since 2017. Development on this land would conflict with national and local planning policy, place additional strain on already overstretched infrastructure, and cause significant environmental harm. In particular, the site’s location risks merging two separate settlements and eroding the established character of both.
Better Wetherby considers this site to be unsuitable for housing allocation and believes it should be rejected through the Local Plan process.
Key Issues & Evidence
Planning Context
The site sits between Wetherby and Kirk Deighton, two distinct settlements in different local authority areas. Development here would directly conflict with the National Planning Policy Framework, which seeks to prevent the coalescence of neighbouring towns and villages.
Wetherby has already met its identified housing requirement and exceeds its five‑year land supply. Allocation of this site is therefore unnecessary and unjustified in planning terms.
Highways & Transport
Transport connectivity in this area is poor.
Road access is constrained and additional housing would exacerbate congestion on Aire Road and surrounding routes.
Public transport provision is limited, with infrequent or indirect bus services.
The site does not support the principles of sustainable travel or 20‑minute communities.
Further development would increase car dependency and contradict local and regional transport objectives.
Environment & Ecology
The site comprises good quality agricultural land, which would be permanently lost to development.
It also sits in close proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, including:
the SSSI and SAC‑designated site for Great Crested Newts at Kirk Deighton
habitats supporting yellowhammers, a species on the RSPB Red List requiring enhanced protection
Development would place these protected species and habitats at significant risk.
Community Impact
Local healthcare and education provision are already at, or exceeding, capacity.
Additional housing would increase pressure on:
GP and health services
school places
local infrastructure
The site has a strong history of community opposition, reflecting widespread concern about the scale, location and cumulative impact of development in this area.
BWP believe that the Hydrological Report prepared by Hallam / Stockeld Park is deeply flawed and was not subjected to suitable review before being 'accepted' by Harrogate Borough Council and Natural England. Our key claim is that infrastructure work on the proposed site will interrupt the natural drainage from the site, which we contend feeds the Kirk Deighton SAC/SSSI and is essential for maintenance of the Great Crested Newt habitat. Our belief is that approval of this appeal / application will have a serious impact on water levels and may lead to complete drying / desiccation of the ponds within the Kirk Deighton SAC / SSSI.
BWP submitted a 5 page summary 'Proof of Evidence' to the Public Inquiry, together with an appendix containing photographic evidence suggesting desiccation is already occurring. Further background information was presented showing Natural England's Site Conservation objectives.
Hallam / Stockeld Park replied with a 212 page rebuttal of our evidence, after requesting an extension of the deadline for submission to the Inquiry. We did not have time to respond to this rebuttal, nor were we allowed full opportunity to present our case under cross examination at the Inquiry. We did however manage to identify that much of their evidence was based on two out-of-date and/or inaccurate maps.
We agreed to disagree on the fate of water from the proposed site, and prepared a summary position statement for the inspector to review. We do note that the expert witness for Hallam / Stockeld park admitted under cross-examination that he was not a geologist, and had little/no experience of limestone hydrology. He was however still able to submit a technical review of their original report, which suggested an even lower risk of impact on the SAC??
BWP's case for potential draining of the Kirk Deighton SAC (Special Area of Conservation)
Hallam / Stockeld presented this Geological Map, on page 195 of their rebuttal, claiming to show groundwater drainage, via dip in the bedrock, to the South East and ultimately to the River Wharfe.
We provided an up-to-date map, as shown below. This clearly indicates a North Easterly dip, which would direct groundwater directly to the Kirk Deighton SAC
Hallam / Stockeld also showed this representation of HBC Flood Risk Map 178, which they claimed to show there was no groundwater incursion into the SAC.
BWP presented the 'accurate' version of this map, which clearly indicates that the SAC has large areas near to it that are subject to ground water flooding.
See HBC Flood Risk Map 178 (or download from https:/www.harrogate.gov.uk to select all options)
Timeline of events
Sept 2025
Kings Meadow View site included in Leeds City Council Call for Sites consultation (Site Ref: LPS00369), proposing approximately 127 dwellings.
Late 2017
Site does not progress further through the planning system.
Sept 2017
Public meeting held at Kirk Deighton Village Hall, followed by 200+ objections from residents of Wetherby and Kirk Deighton.
Aug 2017
Persimmon Homes undertakes a pre‑planning public consultation for around 120 houses on the site. The public consultation, conducted without any prior notice from Persimmon, ran between the 9th and 31st August 2017 (only three weeks) during a peak holiday season including a Bank Holiday.