For those of us fortunate to live in Wetherby and the surrounding villages, we appreciate the pleasant countryside setting, green spaces, access to excellent local shops and services, and a real sense of community. It is a great place to live, so it’s perhaps not surprising that developers want to build more and more new houses.
Over recent years large scale house building has taken place in Wetherby. Further new houses are under construction, more have been approved, with even more subject to current planning applications; but such large-scale development has consequences. The town already has serious highways problems of traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, limited parking and road safety concerns. Local services such as schools, GP & dental services, social services and emergency services face significant pressures. Substantial new housing can only result in further pressure on already overstretched local services and infrastructure.
In 2018, several local organisations and residents in the Wetherby area came together to form a new Partnership - ‘Better Wetherby.’ ‘Better Wetherby’ is not a NIMBY lobby group. It is non-political. The organisation accepts that some new housing, particularly more ‘affordable’ and reasonably costed new properties, especially for young people, will be needed, but believe that these should be developed in a considered, responsible way.
As the housing situation continues to evolve, representatives of ‘Better Wetherby’ will continue to be very active in efforts to ensure that the views of local people are taken into account in the planning process so the character of our historic and attractive market town and the environment is preserved for future generations. We welcome your support.
In this section of the website we will keep you updated on the principal new developments within the Wetherby district, together with historic information regardin past activities:
Over recent years large scale house building has taken place in Wetherby. Further new houses are under construction, more have been approved, with even more subject to current planning applications; but such large-scale development has consequences. The town already has serious highways problems of traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, limited parking and road safety concerns. Local services such as schools, GP & dental services, social services and emergency services face significant pressures. Substantial new housing can only result in further pressure on already overstretched local services and infrastructure.
In 2018, several local organisations and residents in the Wetherby area came together to form a new Partnership - ‘Better Wetherby.’ ‘Better Wetherby’ is not a NIMBY lobby group. It is non-political. The organisation accepts that some new housing, particularly more ‘affordable’ and reasonably costed new properties, especially for young people, will be needed, but believe that these should be developed in a considered, responsible way.
As the housing situation continues to evolve, representatives of ‘Better Wetherby’ will continue to be very active in efforts to ensure that the views of local people are taken into account in the planning process so the character of our historic and attractive market town and the environment is preserved for future generations. We welcome your support.
In this section of the website we will keep you updated on the principal new developments within the Wetherby district, together with historic information regardin past activities:
- Stockeld Park development on Spofforth Hill. The developers and land owners appealed against refusal of this proposed housing estate following a campaign by Better Wetherby in 2018/2019. BW were instrumental in ensuring that this planning permission was refused in 2019. The developers/land owners have recently (July 2025) ressurected this proposal and are attempting to use the governments increased housing demand on North Yoorkshire to push this application through
- Racecourse Approach - now known by the developer as Swinnow Park. Better Wetherby are in active discussions with Taylor Wimpey to ensure that this is an 'exemplar' development, providing the best possible positive impact on Wetherby and the surrounding area.
- Spofforth Park development (Bellway development on Spofforth Hill). Better Wetherby will be monitoring progress to ensuring that the developer follows the planning consent, particularly with regard to environmental impact.
- Kings Meadow View. Persimmon Homes sought the views of residents regarding a substantial development on the northern edge of Wetherby, this led to the formation of WKDCP, a rapidly convened public meeting and more than 200 letters/email objecting to the development. The WKDCP are one of the founding partner of Better Wetherby. It is noted that this site has been included in the LCC 'call for sites', currently (July 2025) open for public comment.
- Lidl - BW were vocal in their objection to location (but not the principle!) of the new Lidl supermarket and Care Home
- Privas Way BW unseccesfully objected to multiple attempts to obtain planning permission for a filling station, car wash and shop on Privas Way.
- Better Wetherby maintain a watching brief on the longer term plans from both Leeds and Harrogate councils and provide input into their Site Allocation Plans.
