North Yorkshire rejects Harrogate Spring Water extension

Despite a recommendation for approval, the council on Friday halted the 52,000 sq ft proposal, citing the loss of woodland and deeming the location of the replacement trees inadequate.

As well as this, it said the design of the new premises was not in keeping with the local environment.

The water company, one of Harrogate’s best known brands, was granted outline planning permission to expand in 2017 and submitted a reserved matters application in 2020.

Plans to extend its bottling facility into land on Rotary Woods were delayed last October, as North Yorkshire Council requested more information on how the company intends to make up for the loss of woodland.

It then requested that the government rule on the decision, however in February this year Steve Reed, secretary of state for housing, communities, and local government, said in a letter to Harrogate MP Tom Gordon, that the government would not rule on the plans.

The proposed development consisted of three units measuring 52,000 sq ft and would have extended north of the current facility onto around four acres of woodland.

Throughout the process, Harrogate Spring Water has openly acknowledged that the plans would necessitate the removal of trees and cause harm to the landscape, but believed this would be outweighed by the economic benefits to the town.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon, said: “Swapping a cherished woodland for a plastic water bottling plant should never have been on the table.

“I’m glad that the committee finally rejected it, but it shouldn’t have taken so many signatures, placards and even the voice of Dames Joanna Lumley and Judi Dench, for them to see sense.

“We still need to be wary of future attempts to destroy our cherished woodland, today’s decision represents a welcome but temporary reprieve.”