Campaigners have claimed a council which quashed its own decision to allow a former police headquarters to be transformed into a children’s holiday centre “has jumped the gun again”.
Residents of the area surrounding Newby Wiske said despite Hambleton District Council announcing it was now anticipating PGL creating a centre for youngsters with 550 guest beds question marks remained over the scheme.
In a statement to update the public, the council announced a hearing had been held at the High Court to consider an application for a judicial review of the planning decision for Newby Wiske Hall. The council said permission to proceed with the legal action had been refused and costs had been awarded in favour of the council.
Councillor David Webster, the council’s planning portfolio holder, added: “The decision to grant approval for the Newby Wiske site was made after careful consideration of all factors and the ruling in the High Court supports the council’s process and decision, as being full and proper. We look forward to seeing the development of the site come forward and its contribution to the future of the Hambleton area.”
Members of Newby Wiske Action Group said it was “highly unsatisfactory” that the authority had issued a press release stating that the campaigners’ attempt to get a judicial review of the council’s decision to grant planning permission for the scheme and listed building consent had been refused.
The application to convert grade II listed Newby Wiske Hall, near Northallerton, was heard by the council’s planning committee in May, more than a year after the authority quashed its decision to grant permission for the scheme.
Uncertainty has surrounded the site since 2012 when North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan pledged to redeploy 450 staff and officers from the historic building as it cost £820,000 a year to maintain.
In 2017 Mrs Mulligan said she had chosen to sell the site to PGL as the firm would be “a very good neighbour” and its plans would have minimal impact on the environment.
However, a number of residents of the village have claimed noise and traffic at the centre would damage their quality of life.
The action group relaunched legal action after the scheme was again passed by the council’s planning committee, which concluded a noise management plan and enforcement action by the council would prevent residents having to endure unacceptable noise and the public benefits of the scheme outweighed its negative impacts.
David Stockport, of the action group, said the council had been premature in “declaring victory” over granting permission for the scheme.
He said: “Hambleton have again jumped the gun. They must know we are still within the period for leave to appeal. They did the same last time announcing they had won and we took it to the High Court.”
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