Campaign launched to oppose homes plan
CAMPAIGNERS BATTLING “excessive” house-building in rural North Yorkshire have urged authorities to heed calls by the Prime Minister when it comes to protecting treasured countryside communities.
Residents in Hampsthwaite, near Harrogate, formed an action group 10 months ago to argue against plans for up to 350 new homes over five sites in the village, almost doubling its size.
After the Prime Minister last month commented on the impact overdevelopment can have on the character of rural communities, the action group has called for authorities to recognise this.
Development as part of the Harrogate Draft Local Plan, they argue, could see up to 26 per cent of new housing built in outlying villages.
“The proposed developments in our village would have a dramatic impact on its unique character and landscape,” said chairman Terry Mounsey.
“Support for our campaign has shown the strength of feeling in the community to protect Hampsthwaite as a village.”
It comes as it emerges developers in the Calderdale district will have to fund the cost of creating or retaining green spaces.
Councillors are expecting to be able to consider Calderdale’s new Local Plan, which could allow for 12,600 new homes to be built across the borough by 2032, in June.
But schemes will have to include elements of “green” before being given the green light, according to detailed draft assessments of the effect the large number of new homes are likely to have on the area’s infrastructure.
The documents indicate developers will have to fill some of the funding gaps for green infrastructure, which ranges from parks and wildlife sites to outdoor sports facilities.