‘Save our view’ - Harrogate residents plea to council planners

A campaign has been launched to save one of Harrogate’s most loved views after Yorkshire Water’s sister company applied for planning permission to build on Harlow Hill.
NADV 1501052AM2 Graham Gotts.(1501052AM2)NADV 1501052AM2 Graham Gotts.(1501052AM2)
NADV 1501052AM2 Graham Gotts.(1501052AM2)

Keyland Developments, the property development arm of Kelda Group wants to build 13 homes on land off Otley Road which campaigners say will spoil the view from Panorama Walk.

Almost 250 people have joined a Facebook group campaigning to ‘Save Harlow’s View’ since it was created on Sunday (January 4) and 93 people have commented on the application on Harrogate Borough Council’s website.

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Wharfedale Crescent resident Graham Gotts started the campaign and said: “They are taking away the view from the majority to give it to the minority.

“I walk my dog there every day, so do so many people, there are memorial benches there because people enjoy that view over Harrogate and beyond. Judging by the prices of the other Yorkshire Water sites these won’t be affordable houses for normal local people.”

Two former Yorkshire Water sites in Harrogate have been developed over the last year; land off Harlow Moor Road, known as Harlow One was developed by Miller Homes with prices ranging from £275,000 to £550,000 and land off Cornwall Road which Linden Road homes have named Sussex Court where prices will range from £800,000 - £1,750,000.

As Keyland Developments application is for fewer than 15 homes there is no Council requirement to provide affordable homes.

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A representative from Keyland confirmed: “This is an outline application in-line with Harrogate Council’s policy on affordable housing.”

Opponents have also raised the traffic issues on Otley Road and criticised developers for the timing of the application over the festive period online.

Neil Hind, Chair of Pinewoods Conservation Group said: “We know a number of our members have raised objections about the development, especially around the timescales for comments but mainly on the impact on the view from the access path to the woods via Nursery Lane.

“The group has also been working with Yorkshire Water to increase biodiversity on their land between the proposed development site and Nursery Lane. We have written to both Yorkshire Water and the developers to seek assurances that this key green area will not be impacted as part of the proposed plans”.

The deadline for comments on Harrogate Borough Council’s website is January 9.

Letters, page 28