Harrogate Spring Water looks to extend bottling facility
One of the town’s most prominent brands is hoping to extend around four acres to the north of its factory, onto land that forms part of Rotary Wood.
Recommended for approval, the scheme has caused local controversy and garnered more than 1,200 complaints, although has received support from the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, with president Scott Jenkins saying: “Harrogate Spring Water is a true local success story, promoting Harrogate on the global stage from Royal Ascot to leading international airlines.
“The economic boost, job creation, and community woodland offer a compelling package that balances business growth with environmental care.
“We believe this proposal sets a best-in-class example of sustainable development and urge planning officers to support it in full.”
Located on Harlow Moor Road, an outline planning application was submitted to Hambleton District Council in May 2016 and was approved in May 2017.
The project team included planning consultant Barton Willmore and its landscape design branch, both of which are now owned by Stantec.
Harrogate Spring Water openly acknowledges that the proposal will necessitate the removal of trees and cause harm to the landscape, but believes this would be outweighed by the economic benefits to the town.
Previous outline permission allowed for a developable area of 73,000 sq ft, with the factory itself not exceeding 52,000 sq ft – however, HSW seems to be looking to increase the size of the previously agreed development, while keeping to the same height.
Landscaping and ecological proposals include planting around 400 trees on site; the creation of a new, two-acre publicly accessible woodland next to the factory; the planting of 3,000 trees around Harrogate; a drainage pond; a living wall; and potentially a green roof – although this would be determined later on.
It has also not been decided whether the land could still be used by the public going forward, and this point is something HSW is willing to discuss with the council.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 28 October.
