A renewed development proposal has been submitted for up to 210 homes on the Stockeld Park / Spofforth Hill site, previously rejected at a 2020 Public Inquiry. The land sits just north of Wetherby in North Yorkshire, just outside the boundary.
Better Wetherby is monitoring the application, encouraging residents to object, and highlighting conflicts with local planning policy.
Latest update: July 2025 – A fresh, nearly identical planning application has been submitted by Stockeld Park / Hallam Land Management
Residents are urged to comment via the North Yorkshire planning portal, or email: planningcomments.har@northyorks.gov.uk, by the deadline of 27th July 2025 quoting the reference 25/02006/OUTMAJ.
Stockeld Park / Spofforth Hill
Proposed Development.
Quick Links
Documents & References
see also links at end - BW’s case for desiccation of SSSI/SAC
Better Wetherby’s View
Our Position
Better Wetherby strongly opposes the renewed Stockeld Park development, viewing it as speculative, premature, and contrary to sound, plan‑led development.
Despite this being in North Yorkshire, it sits right on Wetherby’s border, bringing additional stress on Wetherby’s infrastructure.
This land does not form any part of an existing legal allocation and approval would set a damaging precedent for future non‑allocated sites around the town.
Residents are encouraged to submit objections and stay engaged as BW prepares a full response.
Key Issues & Evidence
Planning Context
This is a fresh, almost identical re‑submission of the scheme previously rejected by Planning Inspectorate at a Public Inquiry in 2020. It is adjacent to Wetherby but within North Yorkshire, and would rely on Wetherby’s infrastructure and service provision. The site is not an allocated site in current planning policy, or any legal local, adopted plans.
Environment & Ecology
The 2020 appeal inspector found harm to landscape character and loss of high‑quality agricultural land
Flawed Hydrological Report accepted by HBC & Natural England, northeasterly dip directing groundwater toward the SAC (contradicting developer data) and groundwater flooding areas near the SAC, contradicting developer claims.
Community Impact
This development would be a strain on Wetherby’s services. Future residents would rely on West Yorkshire‑funded amenities despite living in North Yorkshire, creating governance and service‑provision concerns.
What this development involves
Number of homes: 210 (same as the previous unsuccessful application)
Developer: Stockeld Park / Hallam Land Management
Nature of proposal: A fresh, almost identical re‑submission of the scheme stopped at Public Inquiry in early 2020.
Location: Just outside Spofforth, North Yorkshire (Kirk Deighton parish), immediately north of Wetherby.
Status: Full application submitted July 2025; open for public comment.
Evidence presented by BWP in 2019
Potential Dessication of Kirk Deighton SSSI / SAC
This evidence was disputed by the developer as summarised below and the Inspector did not express an opinion. It is notable that the latest application has not adressed this issue.
BWP's case for potential draining of the Kirk Deighton SAC
(Special Area of Conservation) 2019
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 desiccationis 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 caseunder 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??
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 her. 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
July 2025
New application submitted; BW alerts residents and urges objections.
Feb 2025
Pre‑application consultation noticed; Councillor Alan Lamb issues factual clarification.
Early 2020
Application refused at Public Inquiry.
2028-2019
Initial proposal submitted; strong community opposition emerges.