Council voices frustration as it backs ‘rushed through’ housing development

A CONTROVERSIAL housing development at Knaresborough has been approved despite fears it was the latest in a series of rushed proposals by big developers.

Councillors debated for two hours before approving the 175home application at Bar Lane, amid concerns over traffic, pollution and over-development around the historic market town.

Harrogate’s planning committee councillors expressed their frustration at the lack of a local plan to guide planning decisions. Consultation on Harrogate’s draft local plan is due to begin next week.

Voting in favour of the application, Coun Nigel Simms (Con) said the lack of framework meant he would have to support it. “The fact is we don’t have a local plan so therefore we have to work with the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) as the Government has written it down, and I can’t see anything wrong with it.”

His views were echoed by Coun Pat Marsh (Lib Dems), who also supported the proposal.

Councillors listed six points: that it was outside a development area, the council has a five-year land supply, concerns over pollution, the open countryside location, safety concerns, and a loss of provision for disabled people due to the shifting of a Riding for the Disabled centre from the site.

But they were advised by the council’s legal officer that those grounds for rejection are “not going to be sustainable” and would result in a claim for costs from applicants Gladman Developments. Motions to reject or defer the proposal were lost.