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Hundreds of objections as Richmond housing plan re-submitted
Planning permission is being sought for 29 houses and three self/custom-build plots together with associated open space and infrastructure, at Hurgill Stables, off Hurgill Road, Richmond.
Initially submitted in March 2022, the plans have now been resubmitted with ecological and arboricultural impact assessments. Matt Ball Architecture have worked on behalf of Zetland Estates Ltd to bring forward the development.
In a planning statement, the firm says: “We understand there are tensions and divides regarding the site; it’s easy to understand that disrupting the status quo is not always viewed favourably. After all, we are all creatures of habit and familiarity. Zetland Estates are very keen to promote high quality architecture and design within the district, and hopefully more widely.”
Almost 250 objections have been submitted to the council regarding the development.
One, from nearby resident Alexa Gunn, states: “The impact of the HGV and vehicle access during land re-profiling will be hugely problematic and dangerous due to the lack of footpaths and the road widths around the site, the dangerous junctions and Hurgill Road parking issues.
“Hurgill, Sycamore, Maple and Quarry road can not cope with the volume of traffic this estate would add. It is a threat to life. The scale of the development will affect the night sky, be harmful to the wildlife and the ‘greenfield’ space surrounding our town.”
Richmond Town Council and Yorkshire Water have both submitted strong objections to the proposals.
The Hurgill Stables Objection Group has submitted data of more than 84 moth and 19 butterfly species spotted at the site, and of other wildlife such as barn owls and deer.
The group said: “This area is the ‘dark’ side of Richmond, the streetlights petering out at the top of Hurgill Road and Westfields. This new development will cause intrusive additional light pollution within this rural setting, to be seen from miles around.”
Dendra Consulting Ltd was commissioned by Matt Ball Architecture LLP on behalf of Zetland Estates Ltd, to undertake an ecological impact assessment.
The report states: “The client has identified an area of land within their ownership that is suitable for enhancement as a biodiversity offsetting plot, to address the predicted post-development biodiversity loss at the Hurgill Road site.
“The land is a linear band of broadleaved woodland, forming the southern boundary of Richmond (Yorks) Golf Club.”
The proposal is due be discussed at a planning meeting on July 13.
