Land that North Yorkshire Council would be prepared to compulsory purchase in order to build thousands of homes could be worth £170m, according to a councillor.
Maltkiln land identified for compulsory purchase could be worth £170m Land that North Yorkshire Council would be prepared to compulsory purchase in order to build thousands of homes could be worth £170m, according to a councillor. Cllr Arnold Warneken (Green Party, Ouseburn) gave the figure at a meeting of Selby & Ainsty councillors when he said an unnamed developer had valued 128 hectares of land around Cattal station that is currently unavailable. A new town, called Maltkiln, would be built off the towards York near the villages of Cattal, Whixley, Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton. But large swathes of the site is currently off the table with the council’s Conservative executive agreeing this month to explore the option of using a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to gain control of it and allow developer Caddick Group to build the homes. A decision on whether to use the CPO has not been made yet but if it does happen Caddick has said it would underwrite any costs. Cllr Warneken told councillors that despite public statements from North Yorkshire Council saying the landowner had pulled out from the sale this was not the case. He said he has met the family who told him the reality was an option to buy the land had expired and a new agreement could not be reached with Caddick. Cllr Warneken said:
“The suggestion is, we can CPO it and give no regard for farming and the wishes of the family that’s farmed that land for 200 years. “The real concern from the community is it’s not deliverable. This community, were turning our back on them. "The landowner wants to set the record straight, no way will they turn over and be submissive.”At a meeting earlier this month, Conservative councillor Derek Bastiman, who has the business portfolio on the executive, insisted the CPO “is not a threat to beat the landowners into agreeing to sell land”. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week, Cllr Warneken said the £170m figure could be an underestimate and the land may be worth even more. He said a move to use the CPO could be “irresponsible” of the council due to well-publicised financial pressures on vital services such as adult social care. Cllr Warneken added:
“We’re delving into an area that’s not our responsibility. With the way contruction costs are rising you’d be lucky to get your money back on the CPO and it may even lose money.”By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
Harrogate Town sign Burnley youngster on loan
Harrogate drivers urged to submit footage of dangerous driving
Popular Dog Day returns to Himalayan Garden near Ripon
New Reformer Pilates studio to open in Harrogate
Work begins on Harrogate and York RSPCA's £2m animal home
Free bike repair event returns to Valley Gardens this weekend
Harrogate trains disrupted following death on railway
Businesses urged to sign up for Harrogate's Restaurant Week
Ripon MP warns over rise in unemployment-related benefits
New children's play area opens at Otley Garden Centre
Harrogate Town sign Middlesbrough midfielder on season-long loan
Harrogate adult learners prove it's never too late to achieve GCSE success
Ashville pupils celebrate GCSE success as new Sixth Form awaits
Police warning after counterfeit cash scam in Knaresborough
Outstanding GCSE results at one of Yorkshire's only all-girls schools
Volunteers transform children's play area at Harrogate hospital
Ripon market days see 31% increase in footfall
Harrogate pupils achieve best top-grade GCSE results in four years
Harrogate High head 'enormously proud' of school's GCSE results
Three new independent businesses join Halls of Ripon
