Maltkiln - A potential development of 4000 new homes
Feb-2023
Better Wetherby are aware of a delay in the consultation process as highlighted in our January newsletter. We suspect that the developer wishes to continue with this development and will monitor the siituation over the following months. A more recent update was published in the Wetherby News/Harrogate Advertiser.
7-Dec-2022
Better Wetherby have formally submitted their objection to the outline planning application for this development. You can read our objection letter here on our website - we would encourage everyone to make their views (supporting or objecting!) known to HBC on their portal (19/00017/EIAMAJ). Bear in mind that the developer has stated that Wetherby provide convenient leisure, shopping, schools etc. yet their has been no studies to assess the actual impact of this development on the residents of West Yorkshire. Furthermore Harrogate BC appear to have failed in their duty to co-operate with Wetherby and/or Leeds and have not even notified them that there is a possible development that may impact upon their infrastructure. It is also noteworthy that HBC intend reducing the number of 'affordable homes' on this site from the currently recommended 40% to only 20%, this reduction may then become the 'standard' for future development in Harrogate.
News Update 25-November-22
Better Wetherby have identified a serious data breach by Harrogate BC on their consultation site, we are currently corresponding with HBC to understand how this breach could have occured - see articles in Stray Ferret and Yorkshire Post for further details (also available via our 'BW in the News' page).
We suspect that this breach MIGHT be a result of HBC's desire to 'rush' this development through prior to responsibility for plaanning matters being handed over to North Yorkshire in a few months time.
We also have recently become aware the there is an open outline planning application for this development on the HBC portal (19/00017/EIAMAJ). We find it difficult to understand why this had been submitted prior to the completion of the consultation process, and all comments need to be submitted by 23-Dec-2022. Furthermore, to our knowledge, there has been no notification (Councils have a 'duty to cooperate') with either Wetherby or Leeds as to their views on the development, despite documents specifically identifying Wetherby as location of one of "The nearest major employment, education, retail and leisure facilities" ; and also that Wetherby has the closest secondary school!
As detailed in our latest Newsletter, Better Wetherby have only recently been made aware of this proposal, currently open for consultation on the Harrogate BC website
There is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on the scheme, however this closed on 25th November.
Comments/ responses can be made, by the deadline of 25th November, directly onto the HBC portal, or in writing using a comment form (available on the HBC website or from most libraries in Harrogate district). You may also send comments to planningpolicy@harrogate.gov.uk
BW believe that this development may have a considerable negative impact on Wetherby, in the shape of additional traffic, emissions and strain on already overstretched services, such as surgeries and schools.
> Cattal is less than 5 miles from the centre of Wetherby, around 10 minutes by car.
BW’s concern is that much of the pressure from this scheme will fall, once again, on Wetherby with the development generating some 6,500 additional cars. Equally of concern is that HBC is apparently preparing to ditch its own policy on Affordable Housing provision from 40% of new developments to 20%, that this will then form a requirement for all new developments which opens the floodgates across the area.
BW’s have also recently sent a press release expressing our concerns regarding this development.
We have also formally submitted a consultation response highlighting a number of areas of concern, including:
- A failure by HBC to consult Wetherby or Leeds resident/councils of these plans. HBC were criticised on this aspect during the 2019 Public Inquiry into a proposed development on Stockeld Park Land
- Premature, not required to maintain housing supply to meet Harrogate Local Plan
- Insufficient affordable housing. Furthermore this would set a dangerous precedent in lowering the requirements for future developments
- Impact on transport.
