Out-Law News 1 min. read

Harrogate rejects 600-home scheme on greenfield site


Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee this week rejected an outline application for a major mixed-use scheme on a 27.8 hectare site at Killinghall in North Yorkshire despite the Council having a shortfall in its housing land supply. 

The proposals by Woodard Corporation, Hallam Management Ltd & Persimmon Homes include the construction of 600 new homes, a primary school as well as shops, community facilities and open space. 

The committee decided against the proposals, with no votes in favour, after raising concerns about the impact the increased number of residents would have on the traffic levels in the area. The decision was made despite a recommendation by the Council's planning officers to grant permission for the scheme.

The officers said in the committee report (47-page / 1.71MB PDF) that the Council could not demonstrate a five year housing land supply in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and that the presumption in favour of sustainable development therefore applied.

The officers noted that the site is a draft allocation in the Council's forthcoming Sites and Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) and that it is proposed to form a "substantial part" of the Council's five year housing land supply. They said that, although the Sites and Policies DPD had not been adopted, it would not be justified to reject the proposals on prematurity grounds.

In relation to the impacts of the scheme on highways, the officers said that highways improvement works to be carried out and conditions attached to the proposed planning permission meant that the development would not be detrimental to highway safety or traffic flow. The report concluded that the benefits arising from the scheme would outweigh any adverse impacts.

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