A decision on Harrogate Spring Water’s proposed expansion has been postponed as councillors seek more information on environmental and legal matters.
The company is aiming to extend its bottling facility on Harlow Moor Road, a move expected to create around 50 new jobs. The expansion would encroach on Rotary Wood, a community woodland forming part of the Pinewoods Green Corridor, resulting in the loss of about 500 trees.
Despite company assurances to plant six times as many trees elsewhere, the proposal has drawn strong public opposition, with more than 1,000 comments submitted since the plans were first lodged. Council officers had recommended approval, but the Harrogate and Knaresborough area planning committee voted to defer the decision by three votes to two.
Councillors requested additional details about the section 106 agreement between Harrogate Spring Water and North Yorkshire Council, as well as clarification on environmental mitigation measures outlined under “condition 12.”
Harrogate Spring Water received outline planning approval in 2017 and submitted a revised application in 2020. However, the scheme has faced persistent objections from local residents and community groups, citing biodiversity concerns and questions over the validity of previous planning permissions.
No date has been set for when the application will return to committee.
