Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Harrison and Windass.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2025 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Councillor Aldred declared, on behalf of all Members, that they had each been lobbied on the application by members of the public and interested parties.

Councillor Aldred stated that he was a Member of Harrogate Town Council.  He referred to comments made during the previous May’s election campaign concerning Harrogate Springwater’s rental payments to North Yorkshire Council, and his party’s view at that time, that a proportion should instead be paid to Harrogate Town Council.  He confirmed that this would have no bearing on his decision‑making, and as a declaration had been made at the October 2025 meeting, he considered it appropriate to repeat it.

Councillor Haslam referred to a comment on a news website published that day which inferred he may be predetermined.  For the avoidance of doubt, he confirmed that he approached the matter with an open mind and was present to weigh the evidence and reach a fair and lawful decision.

Councillor Broadbank declared that he had attended the meeting held in October 2025 and had voted at that time.  He confirmed that he would consider all representations made at this meeting and had an open mind.

The Assistant Director Planning, Community Development Services sought determination of a reserved matters planning application for an extension to Harrogate Spring Water bottling facility, pursuant to outline application 16/05254/OUTMAJ, with access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale being the only matters for consideration, on land at Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 0QB.

The application had been reported to the Committee due to there being significant public interest in the application such that it was appropriate for it to be considered by the Committee.

The Development Service Manager advised that the application sought approval of reserved matters for an extension to the existing Harrogate Spring Water bottling facility, namely layout, internal access, landscaping, scale and appearance, following outline permission granted in 2017.  All other matters including the principle of development, site access, drainage, tree loss, ecology and drainage had been determined or conditioned at the outline stage and were not for consideration at this meeting.

The Officer stated that consideration of the application had been deferred at the meeting on 28 October 2025 pending details of the Section 106 agreement and discharge of condition 12.  A finalised Section 106 agreement was now available, securing off‑site replacement planting and its ongoing maintenance, and was ready to be completed if approval were granted.  Condition 12, relating to ecology, had been discharged.  It was further confirmed that a screening opinion under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations had since been issued, concluding that an Environmental Statement was not required.

Members noted that since the previous meeting, the Secretary of State had considered whether to call in the application or issue a screening direction under the EIA Regulations.  On both matters, the Secretary of State decided not to intervene and confirmed that the application should be determined by the local planning authority.

The Officer presented details of the application, showing the site location to the southwest of the existing facility and the parameters plan approved at outline stage, which set the development area, scale and massing. It was confirmed that the proposed layout and internal access arrangements complied with the approved parameters and were therefore considered acceptable.

The proposed landscaping was outlined, including on‑site planting and off‑site planting to the west, with replacement planting exceeding that to be lost and considered acceptable.  The Officer also presented the building elevations, sections and floor plans, confirming that the appearance, scale and massing accorded with the outline approval.  Photographs of the site were shown, and it was concluded that the reserved matters were acceptable and that the reasons for deferral in October 2025 had been resolved.

Sarah Gibbs, spoke on behalf of Save Rotary Wood, objecting to the application.

Councillor Josie Caven spoke on behalf of Harrogate Town Council, objecting to the application.

Division Councillor Mike Schofield spoke, objecting to the application.

Richard Hall, Managing Director of Harrogate Spring Water spoke in support of the application.

The following questions were raised by the Committee.

· Members queried the routes of enforceability, monitoring, and management of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances.

There were no items of urgent business

Tuesday, 28 April 2026 at 2.00pm.

Tuesday 28 April 2026, at 2.00 pm.