Campaigners welcome council’s decision to defend Harrogate Spring Water refusal
North Yorkshire Council has confirmed it will defend its decision to reject plans to expand a Harrogate water bottling factory into community woodland.
The confirmation has been welcomed by campaigners fighting to protect Rotary Wood, who had feared the council might not contest the appeal because its own planning officers had originally recommended approval.
Harrogate Spring Water, which is owned by multinational food and drink company Danone, has appealed against the decision to refuse permission for a major 52,000 sq ft factory extension.
The proposals would see development extend into Rotary Wood, an established area of woodland adjoining Harrogate’s Pinewoods.
However, councillors stated the proposed landscaping was inadequate and that the building’s appearance was unacceptable in its sensitive setting.
North Yorkshire Council’s head of development management, Martin Grainger, has now confirmed the authority will defend the refusal at appeal.
Coun Arnold Warneken contacted the council to seek confirmation of its position at the request of Pinewoods Conservation Group and the Save Rotary Wood campaign group.
North Yorkshire Council has also confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it intends to defend its decision.
Sarah Gibbs, of Save Rotary Wood, welcomed the confirmation but criticised the company’s decision to appeal.
She said: “It’s very disappointing that it’s come to this, but Danone/HSW are now showing their true colours.
“They wanted to take too much while offering too little in return and now, having failed to persuade elected councillors, the multi-billion-dollar corporation is asking for even more time and public resources by requesting a six-day planning inquiry.
“This is not about care for community, local democracy, or environment. It’s all about money.”
Campaigners argue the compensation offered for the loss of woodland is insufficient and the expansion would cause lasting harm to the local landscape and environment.
However, Harrogate Spring Water insists its proposals have been carefully developed to balance business growth with environmental improvements.
Its plans include creating two acres of publicly accessible woodland next to Rotary Wood, equivalent to the area affected by the expansion, planting six replacement trees for every one lost under a scheme developed with council ecology experts, and delivering a 10 per cent biodiversity net gain.
Managing director Richard Hall said: “We understand the importance of Rotary Wood to the local community.
“So we have developed our plans very carefully over a number of years, taking into account community feedback and environmental considerations, including a new two-acre publicly accessible woodland, six trees planted for every one lost and a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity.
“As a proud Harrogate business, we want to grow sustainably, supporting local jobs and the wider economy, while continuing to listen to the community.
“We believe our appeal has a strong basis and look forward to the opportunity to have our plans properly considered.”
The company argues the development is important for its future and would bring wider benefits to the local economy, creating more than 50 jobs and providing an estimated £2.3m annual boost.
Outline permission for the expansion was previously granted in 2017.