North Yorkshire Council has announced that the Harrogate & Knaresborough Planning Committee will meet on 17 April 2026. It will determine Harrogate Spring Water’s planning application to expand their bottling plant, which includes cutting down more than 500 mature trees in Rotary Wood.
Jonathan Swales, Chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Reform UK Branch said:
Announcing the planning committee meeting will take place on April 17th gives far too little notice to determine an application that has attracted nearly 1000 objections.
This is undemocratic and looks like an attempt to avoid scrutiny.
The location of the planning application is within the Pinewoods and Valley Garden Special Landscape Area and there are public rights of way to the north, south, east and west of the site. Also land to the south east of the site is designated a Local Green Space in the Local Plan.
This area is a vital part of Harrogate’s ecological and natural heritage and it is much valued by local residents. It is the view of Reform UK that the Pinewoods and the Special Landscape Area should be fully protected and not used for commercial development.
We urge the Planning Committee to reject this application.
The Pinwoods Conservation Groups have said that they have requested a Planning Committee date with more notice, but have been informed that the planning application for the Harrogate Spring Water expansion will be considered by the Planning Committee on the current date of Friday 17 April at 2pm.
A Spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group said:
We are extremely disappointed that this decision is being pushed through at short notice, rather than being scheduled on previously published committee dates.
This limits the time available for residents and community groups to properly review the latest documents, some only published this Easter week, and prepare responses on an issue of major local importance.
Harrogate Spring Water is a brand of Danone, and have said that the bottling capacity expansion is needed for business development, and that there are economic benefits to the region. They also have previously said that they have engaged with the community to develop plans that mitigate concerns, most notably a replacement woodland near to the current Pinewoods location.
- This decision will determine whether the detailed plans for the expansion – including the loss of woodland and changes to the landscape – are approved.
- While the Council says the “principle” of development has already been agreed, councillors are still responsible for deciding whether the details are acceptable, especially in relation to landscaping and environmental impact.
