Harrogate Water’s expansion plans refused

Harrogate Water’s plans to expand its plastic bottling factory have been stopped by Harrogate Borough Council.

The Harrogate-based business which was acquired by food and drink giant Danone last year had originally received outline permission for the extension of the bottling plant in 2017. However the firm has sought permission for a larger extension on the site owned by Harrogate Council.

The application which sought to increase the footprint of the site by 22% onto community woodland was claimed to create 85 new jobs and had been recommended for approval by the council’s planning department.

Images showing the area of the previously approved expansion (top) vs the site of the proposed new expansion (bottom)

However, the application received 408 objections and the planning committee voted to refuse the application with Councillor Pat Marsh leader of the Liberal Democrat party stating that the planning application was contrary to a number of areas of the local plan and National Planning Policy Framework section 15 paragraph 175.

Marsh added that she would not support the council “profit and plastic before impact on the environment” on her watch.

The decision which has been described as one of the “most significant” in the town’s recent history, with the proposed site of the extension having been part of a long running dispute between the company and local campaigners.