Green Light for a Landscape-led Neighbourhood in Harrogate

Published on 22 March 2018

JTP’s proposals for a new neighbourhood at Skipton Road, on the outskirts of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, have received Reserved Matters approval from Harrogate Borough Council, with strong support at committee.

The proposals, for client Home Group, will deliver a total of 345 homes in two phases.

Set within an 18.6 hectare site, the homes include innovative designs to suit specific market groups such as downsizers, first time buyers and families. The neighbourhood will deliver 40% affordable housing, distributed evenly across the site and designed to be tenure blind to support community cohesion.

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We’ve responded to the local housing needs in Harrogate with plans for 345 homes at our Skipton Road scheme, and we’re delighted to receive approval from Harrogate Borough Council. The homes will cover a range of house types, with 40% of them available as affordable housing managed by Home Group. Skipton Road is a mixed tenure development set around generous and open landscape that takes advantage of the fantastic views, and JTP has delivered on plans that enhance the area and will encourage a strong sense of community.

Brian Ham, Executive Director of Development at Home Group

The neighbourhood is arranged into several distinct character areas, with the design and layout of homes reflecting a contemporary interpretation of the local vernacular. Each area provides homes in a variety of sizes and tenures to ensure the growth of a balanced, sustainable community.

JTP’s proposals create a setting conducive to a healthy lifestyle, with large landscaped areas including community growing gardens and play spaces, a layout which prioritises pedestrians and cyclists over cars, and an extensive network of attractive foot and cycle routes within the site.

A new central parkland known as The Meadows will create a green heart for the community, with a series of linked wildflower meadows defined by groups of trees and orchards, and criss-crossed by walking routes. Richly landscaped ecological corridors wrap around the new homes, most of which overlook these spaces, maximising views for residents and providing natural surveillance across the neighbourhood.

The gently sloping topography of the site naturally creates views towards Harrogate and out over the surrounding countryside, as well as providing the opportunity to integrate sustainable drainage features throughout.

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Working with local interest groups to protect and enhance important elements of the existing landscape, including a disused quarry, was a key aspect of our design strategy for the site. The layout reinforces this approach, grouping homes together to provide shelter, creating landmarks in key locations and framing green vistas. Most importantly, the new neighbourhood aims to build a strong community by providing a varied sequence of streets and spaces, designed to make orientation easy, create strong focal points and foster social interaction between new and existing residents.

Joanna Allen, JTP Partner leading the project

Related Projects

Skipton Road, Harrogate

New Neighbourhood
Stage: Detailed Planning Consent