Plans for Harrogate Town training centre withdrawn

Plans for a £2.75m training facility have been withdrawn by Harrogate Town Football Club.

The National League club submitted proposals to Leeds City Council last year, which included a single-storey clubhouse, a grass and artificial pitch, parking and landscaping near Wetherby Racecourse.

However, plans were withdrawn earlier this month after new data put the proposed clubhouse in a flood zone, making the development "incompatible".

A Harrogate Town spokesperson said they would re-submit a new application once revised plans had been considered that would meet the new requirements.

Harrogate Town's teams currently use training facilities across the region and the club decided a new permanent base was needed.

CEO Sarah Barry said they hoped the new training ground would also be used by the community, including local schools and sports teams.

A club spokesperson added: "During the planning application process, we were recently notified that the Environment Agency would have to object to the application on the basis that more up-to-date flood mapping for the site has been released since the original planning application was submitted.

"This new data now places the proposed clubhouse within a flood zone where such a development is considered incompatible.

"This was not identified previously during the two pre-application periods and has only come to light in the last few weeks which coincided with the end of the football season."

According to council documents, the plans were withdrawn on 30 April, which the club said was to avoid a refusal on the application.

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