Riverside homes plan criticised in consultation

Dozens of objections have been submitted in response to proposals to build three riverside homes in Knaresborough.

The plans would involve building on vacant land within the picturesque town's conservation area, situated close to its famous viaduct standing over the River Nidd.

Applicant Chris Farley said the development on Waterside would result in a 10% biodiversity net gain improvement, but Knaresborough Town Council, who are among the objectors, said it would cause "significant and irreversible harm" to the immediate area.

North Yorkshire Council is expected to rule on the application in the coming months.

The applicant is seeking outline planning permission, which would indicate whether or not the development was seen as viable.

In its objection, Knaresborough Town Council said the development "would result in significant and irreversible harm to the local environment, landscape character, biodiversity, flood resilience and residential amenity".

It added: "The land represents one of the last remaining natural and untouched areas along Waterside, contributing significantly to the historic appearance and ecological value of the locality."

Knaresborough Civic Society said it had "significant concerns regarding the suitability of the proposal for this particularly sensitive riverside location".

Although it stopped short of recommending refusal, it said the development's design features, including first-floor balconies, "risk introducing a more suburban and contemporary character into a riverside landscape whose significance derives largely from its informal, green and historic qualities".

The group also called on the authority to consider "occupancy controls" to ensure the properties were not used for holiday lets, citing "increasing pressure placed upon housing stock in historic towns where residential properties are lost to holiday and short-term visitor use".

Numerous residents on Waterside have also raised concerns, including about the potential impact on traffic along the narrow road leading to and from their homes.

A biodiversity net gain assessment said the development would result in the loss of existing grassland, scrub and woodland habitats, but also highlighted that no irreplaceable habitats had been found on the site.

It did conclude that it was "unlikely" the project would achieve the 10% gain required within its boundary, meaning "off-site habitat compensation" would be required.

A previous application for a single detached home on the site, situated next to the Waterside car park, was rejected in 1989.

The public consultation over the plans will close on Saturday, with 39 objections submitted so far.

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