Background
Since 1996, developers have been seeking planning permission to build a massive, 24x7 Motorway Service Area at Kirby Hill. For 25 years, planning permission was repeatedly denied. Harrogate Borough Council's Planning Committee was resolute in its opposition to the scheme. Kirby Hill RAMS (Residents Against Motorway Services) defeated the developer's appeals against refusal of planning permission at three Public Inquiries. Each time, the Secretary of State ruled that the landscape north of Kirby Hill was not an appropriate location for such major development and that the harm caused would outweigh any benefits.
The plans would turn 48 acres of prime agricultural land next to Kirby Hill into a 24-hour motorway service area with petrol station, shops, restaurants and parking for 384 cars and 90 HGVs. It is an unnecessary development that would cause significant harm. In another victory for Kirby Hill RAMS, in November 2019, Harrogate Borough Council's Planning Committee unanimously REJECTED the scheme.
During the COVID pandemic, Irish developer Applegreen, who own MSA operator Welcome Break, again appealed the refusal of planning permission. This resulted in another Public Inquiry - the fourth in 25 years. The Inquiry was held virtually due to to lockdown restrictions. Over 800 local people watched online. Kirby Hill RAMS presented extensive evidence and challenged the developer's experts over their plans.
You can watch Kirby Hill RAMS' closing speech to the 2021 Public Inquiry here: Closing Speech by Mr. Gareth Owens
In a widely-criticised decision, the Planning Inspector, David Rose overturned 25 years of local refusal for an MSA on this site, overruled the Local Planning Authority's unanimous decision to refuse the scheme, and granted outline planning permission for the proposed development.
The grant of OUTLINE planning permission does not mean that the development can be started. Kirby Hill RAMS and the local community remain united in their resolve to ensure that detailed planning permission should be refused and there will be NO SERVICES HERE.
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Having argued at the Inquiry that there was a 'compelling need' for a new MSA at Kirby Hill, Applegreen/Welcome Break received OUTLINE planning permission and appear to have done nothing for two years. In March 2023, Applegreen publicly admitted that the scheme could not be built according to the plans the Inspector had approved. They submitted an application to vary the planning conditions imposed by the Inspector, which was controversially approved by the Strategic Planning Committee of the new North Yorkshire Council on 12 September 2023. Kirby Hill RAMS have challenged the legality of this decision and are planning to seek Judicial Review of the decision in the High Court.
Kirby Hill RAMS
Kirby Hill RAMS is an independent residents' group that aims to ensure there will be no motorway services at Kirby Hill. RAMS 'No Services Here' campaign has been highly successful over the last 27 years in preventing inappropriate and unnecessary MSA development at Kirby Hill. We have no funding - we rely on volunteers and on the support of the local community to keep fighting the plans of corporate giants and their teams of lawyers, planning consultants and professional experts.