Chance for residents to have a say on siting of new village

RESIDENTS ARE being invited to have their say on the location of a 3,000- home village between Harrogate and York.

Harrogate Borough Council has launched a consultation on three site options for the huge housing settlement near Green Hammerton and Cattal so it can push forward with the controversial project.

However, campaigning locals had raised “grave concerns” over the consultation process even before it started.

Members of campaign group Keep Green Hammerton Green said council claims that there has previously been “targeted engagement” with residents were “highly misleading”.

Council officials have said residents’ views will be“vitally important” to the scheme which also includes two primary schools, shops and a doctors’ surgery.

The council’s preferred option is on land south of Cattal railway station, while the second potential site is north of the railway line between Cattal and Hammerton stations.

The final option is an area also north of the railway line, with the majority of the development located south of the A59.

The council said the settlement would provide “muchneeded” homes, employment and public transport links. It added a Development Plan Document ( DPD) will help shape the design and delivery of the scheme.

A revised outline planning application for the settlement to be called Maltkiln Village was submitted to the council in February. It includes one to five bedroom homes, as well as bungalows and apartments.

The public consultation will run until December 11. Visit consult. harrogate. gov. uk/ kse/ event/ 35674 to provide feedback as part of the process.