Work set to start on 3,000-home Maltkiln in ‘year or two’

Members of North Yorkshire Council’s executive voted on Tuesday (March 17) to adopt a masterplan framework for Maltkiln, which would be built around Cattal railway station, near Harrogate.

The framework will be used to shape the development of the new community, which, as well as housing, includes primary schools, shops, and health and sports facilities.

Councillor Mark Crane, executive member for open to business, told the committee that work was progressing on the scheme.

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“This is a high-level document that’s in front of us today. A lot more work needs doing on it, but we are getting towards the stage where hopefully in the next year or two we’ll see spades in the ground and the start of a new settlement which will be very accessible because of the train line, with the bus service we’re hoping will be there as well.

“(It will have) buildings that are of a high standard and require a lot less heating than older buildings would do. It’s a positive story, although what you will always find is everybody supports new settlements as long as they’re nowhere near them.”

A map of the proposed development

Councillor Carl Les, leader of the authority, added: “We’ve been talking about this for a long, long time since we inherited it from Harrogate (Borough Council).

“I think the really worrying thing is that to meet our housing targets, we need a Maltkiln every year.”

The framework was approved despite concerns from some local councillors.

Ahead of the meeting, Councillor Arnold Warneken, member for the Ouseburn division, urged the executive to delay adopting the framework until further consultation work had taken place with local communities.