Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director – Planning

Considered :-

The Assistant Director - Planning sought determination of a reserved matters planning application with full details of the appearance, landscaping, layout, access and scale of a development for 184 newbuild dwellings and the conversion of North Lodge, Headmasters House, Kensington House and Library to form 16 dwellings, together with associated infrastructure, sustainable drainage system and biodiversity enhancement works on land at the former police training centre, Yew Tree Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

David Siddans spoke objecting to the application.

Councillor Cathy Burrell spoke on behalf of Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council.

Alastair Curran spoke on behalf of the applicant in support of the application.

During consideration of the above report, the Committee discussed the following issues:-

·       Access into the site via Yew Tree Lane. Active travel concerns, including the accessibility of bus stops were also discussed although Members were reminded that access into and within the site were the only matters for determination.

·       Cycle access on the site and a query relating to the proposed implementation date for the cycleway link. 

·       Consideration of the use of permeable materials for the driveways on site.

·       Concerns regarding the proposed location of the children’s play area on the site, and its distance from Yew Tree Lane. 

The Officers recommendations that the reserved matters planning application be approved subject to the conditions listed in the report were moved however the proposal did not receive a seconder. The motion therefore fell.

A proposal to defer the application to enable further discussions on the location of the children’s play area was subsequently moved however the proposal did not receive a seconder.

With regards to the above fallen motions, it was noted that several Members had outstanding concerns in relation to access to active travel, in order to connect the site with the wider community. In response, the officers present agreed to request that an update be provided to the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee regarding active travel plans within the west of Harrogate. 

In order to address concerns raised by the Committee, the Applicant confirmed that he was willing to hold a discussion within a public setting with representatives from Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council and the Division Member concerning the issues raised relating to the Construction Management Plan and Traffic Plan.

The Officers recommendations were then moved and seconded, as detailed below.

The decision :-

To approve the reserved matters application for access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale subject to the conditions listed in the report, following the expiry of the consultation period, and provided the Assistant Director - Planning, determines that no new material planning objections are raised in representations received between the date of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Planning Committee (30th January) and the expiry date of the consultation period. Where the Assistant Director - Planning, determines that new material planning objections have been raised, the application will be returned to Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Planning Committee for further consideration.

Voting Record

A vote was taken and the motion was declared carried with 4 votes for, 1 vote against and 1 abstention.

Note: Councillors Chris Aldred and Philip Broadbank, having declared non-pecuniary interests, remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion and voting on the above application.