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28
Oct 2021
Harrogate council 'at constant threat from developers', say councillors
Harrogate councillors have raised concerns that the authority is at “constant threat from developers” when making planning decisions.
Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh, a member of Harrogate Borough Council's planning committee, said councillors were “constantly” being told that decisions they make could lead to the council being challenged at appeal.
This year, the council has seen refusals over a Starbucks on Wetherby Road and 72 homes in Spofforth challenged and overturned by the government. It has also had costs awarded against it for “unreasonable behaviour” after those appeals.
At a meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Marsh raised concern that the committee had become a “tick box exercise” and that the authority was at the mercy of developers.
She said:
Read more:
- Harrogate council ‘demonstrated unreasonable behaviour’ over Starbucks rejection, says inspector
- Lost planning appeals have cost Harrogate district taxpayers £209,000 in legal fees
- Government approves controversial 72 homes in Spofforth
Conservative Cllr Sue Lumby agreed with Cllr Marsh. She said:
Councillors were debating plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough when they raised concerns.
However council officers said councillors “hands were not tied”, but added that they must “act on the evidence” when deciding to go against officer recommendations.
Lost planning appeals
This year, the council failed to defend a decision to refuse a controversial plan for a Starbucks on Wetherby Road because officers said it could lead to legal costs of £50,000.
The council turned down the development back in 2019 on air quality and highways grounds, but later withdrew its objection.
The proposal, which was submitted by Euro Garages, was later approved by the government and full costs for the appeal were awarded against the council.
Meanwhile, last week a controversial plan for 72 homes in Spofforth was granted permission by the government despite Harrogate Borough Council refusing the scheme.
Siobhan Watson, a government planning inspector, awarded costs against the authority after finding its reasons for refusal to be "vague and illogical".
In September, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that planning appeals lost by the borough council had cost taxpayers almost a quarter of a million pounds in legal fees since 2012.
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