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28
Dec 2022
No.7: The ongoing saga over Maltkiln
In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the debate over a planned new 3,000 town in the Harrogate district called Maltkiln.
When Harrogate Borough Council unveiled a planned new town on the edge of the district, which could be home to 10,000 people, it was always likely to generate a mixed response.
The development, which was revealed to be called Maltkiln this year, promises up to 3,000 homes, two primary schools, as well as shops and employment space.
The aim of the scheme near Hammerton and Cattal is to make a dent in the district’s housing demand.
However, this year It faced questions over its green credentials, the lack of secondary education and criticism over a council-run consultation.
The layout for Maltkiln, which is centred around Cattal Station
From the start, there were eyebrows raised over the name itself - but that was the tip of the iceberg when it came to critics of the scheme.
Since the start of the consultation in October, Cllr Arnold Warneken raised questions over the process and its transparency.
First there was a plea to extend the survey after it emerged that some details in the housing document had been changed part way through.
It was enough for Cllr Warneken to threaten the council with a judicial review.
In a letter, he said:
The borough council eventually agreed to the extension.
Then the authority was forced to apologise after publishing personal details of those who had submitted views to the consultation.
But the debate surrounding Maltkiln did not stop at an administrative process.
Read more:
- Consultation extended into new Harrogate district town after legal threat
- Harrogate council apologises after publishing personal details
- ‘Let’s make the best of it’: Hopes and fears for 3000-home Maltkiln settlement
Much was made over the fact that the development - which is the size of Thirsk - had no secondary school.
Instead, council officials confirmed that those students of a secondary school age look set to travel to Boroughbridge High School.
As a result, councillors raised questions over how this reflected on the the scheme’s green aims.
As Cllr Pat Marsh, chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency committee, said in November:
A vibrant community
The council has maintained that it wants Maltkiln to be a “vibrant new community in its own right” which compliments the surrounding villages.
It has also pointed out that the plan for the new town is spread over 30 years.
For some villagers, there is hope that the new scheme will inject young blood into the area.
Keith Welton, 74, who lives in Cattal, told the Stray Ferret in July that he was taking a pragmatic approach to the new town by hoping the new North Yorkshire Council is firm with developers by ensuring affordable homes are built.
He said:
For Harrogate Borough Council, choosing the area for 3,000 new homes is arguably one of its biggest decisions ahead of its abolition in April.
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