North Yorkshire approves Maltkiln village
The 3,000-home development being brought forward by the council and Caddick has been given the go-ahead with the masterplan formally approved at a meeting last week.
The project team includes architect DLA, which is also handling landscaping, planning consultant ADAS, consulting engineer WSP, and heritage consultant FAS Heritage.
The new settlement, located between Harrogate and York and centred around Cattal railway station, includes proposals for two primary schools, a nursery, and a range of retail, health and sports facilities.
The plan was approved on Wednesday, despite a request from neighbouring Kirk Hammerton Parish Council to defer the vote.
Speaking before the vote, North Yorkshire Council executive member Mark Crane said: “I’m pleased to report that, following the inspector’s decision, we are now in a position to press ahead with a new settlement called Maltkiln, located in the area of the former Harrogate Borough Council.
“The development will provide at least 3,000 homes and includes policies to realise a vision for a thriving new community.
“This plan has been many years in the making, even before the establishment of the new North Yorkshire Council.
“Following a rigorous public examination, the inspector has approved it with the modifications presented today.
“I genuinely believe this represents a positive step for North Yorkshire, and I hope it will encourage other new settlements to come forward in the new local plan.
“As I have emphasised before, these new settlements are intended to reduce pressure on existing towns and villages.
“Colleagues should remember that these projects take years to deliver – they will not happen overnight.
“Even though Maltkiln has been in the pipeline for some time, it will still be a few years before the first houses are built.
“Maltkiln benefits from being on a railway line, with good connections to Harrogate and Leeds, which I believe makes this a particularly positive development. I would urge you to support it…
“”There is already a train line in the area, which will allow future residents of Maltkiln to use the train instead of relying on cars.
“The current service is adequate, but with three to four thousand new homes, it is likely that the railway operators will see the opportunity to improve the service.”
The meeting also heard that the council may consider a compulsory purchase order for part of the site after a landowner withdrew.
Commenting on that, cllr Crane said: “We have been clear in the past that we can and would be willing to CPO that land if necessary.
“I believe that is the right decision in order to make Maltkiln happen if we need to do it.”
Plans for Maltkiln have been in progress since 2018, when Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan proposed a new town to meet future housing needs in the area.
