The company behind a major new development at Flaxby, believes it holds the key to unlock Harrogate Borough Council’s under delivery of new housing stock, as well as generating approximately £4.9 million in Council Tax each year.
A planning application has been submitted to transform Flaxby’s disused golf course into a major new sustainable village community, known as Flaxby Park. It includes 2,750 high quality homes along with a retirement village, two primary schools, a GP surgery, sports facilities, a new village centre and significant improvements to local transport links. More than 50% of the site will consist of green open space.
Harrogate Borough Council’s draft Local Plan, which has been submitted for independent review to the Government, and is due to go to a public examination later this year, says that provision needs to be made for a minimum of 14,049 new homes, including much needed affordable housing, up to the year 2035.
The former golf course was purchased in 2016 by Flaxby Park Ltd, which is owned by internationally renowned businesswoman and philanthropist Ann Gloag OBE and regeneration experts Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner.
Chris Musgrave said:
Like many local authorities, Harrogate has to increase the supply of local houses in order to meet growing demand for homes. Building 2,750 new homes at Flaxby Park would immediately reduce Harrogate Borough Council’s target by almost 20%, giving it a much more achievable goal, as well as solving its housing problem in the short-term.
We have housebuilders ready to start work on site as soon as planning permission is secured and the infrastructure is already in place, unlike the other major new settlement recommended in the draft Local Plan, which also faces much opposition.
Crucially, Flaxby Park would also start generating substantial council tax payments as soon as the first houses complete, which would significantly benefit the Harrogate district as a whole.
The development would be an exceptional place to live, and it has been designed to maximise its magnificent parkland setting, with lots of green space. It will bring major economic benefits to the surrounding area and we are ready to deliver it.
In addition to reopening the former Goldsborough Railway Station, which would offer direct links to Leeds and York, Flaxby Park also includes provisions to improve access at the entrance of the site, which already offers easy access to junction 47 of the A1(M).
Flaxby Park has been designed by a team of leading consultants, including local, respected architects, Wildblood Macdonald.
For further information and to view the planning application see https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/planningapplications
