Electricity sub-station sparks row on heritage

The controversial scheme, by energy company NEDL, to build the substation in the grounds of Grade-I listed St Wilfrid's Church, Duchy Road, Harrogate, has been heavily criticised by residents and community groups in the town.

Following news that the application could now be put before a Harrogate Borough Council planning committee as early as May, The Victorian Society, the national charity campaigning for the Victorian and Edwardian historic environment, has slammed the proposals.

Alex Baldwin, conservation adviser for the society, said: "This is a clear case of the wrong place and the wrong building, we urge NEDL to look again for an alternative site

"This is a wonderful building and this proposal would be extremely damaging to the church.

"There are very few buildings of this significance in the entire country and this would mean a really quite ugly and utilitarian building put next to it."

The Harrogate Civic Society has also vehemently opposed the plans and last month submitted letters to the energy company and the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds urging them to rethink the decision.

Chairman Howard Hughes said: "We are delighted this is being put on the national agenda and this is absolutely welcome."

NEDL says the substation is part of a 10m upgrade scheme which is desperately needed to cope with increasing demand in the town and could go before planners as early as May.

A spokesman said: "The project team has been searching for a suitable substation site location for the past eight years. However, none of the 20 plus sites investigated progressed beyond the feasibility-study stage.

"We consider the current proposal to be sympathetic to the site's sensitive location."