Ripon City Council (RCC) object to this application in the strongest terms on the basis that the traffic proposals will affect the whole city of Ripon. The latest proposals include prohibiting vehicles from making a right turn at the Low Skellgate traffic lights. The impact of this will be city wide and will result in demonstrable harm to the city, with journeys across the city increasing in length and duration. An example being a journey from the city centre to the new housing provision at the Cathedral Choir School Development, which will double in length in some cases.
Increased pollution will result from the longer journeys within the city. We do not consider this an example of sustainable transport.
The Council wholeheartedly support the Ripon Military Project and endorse the comments made by Ripon Civic Society in their communication dated 17th February 2022 on this application.
The Council’s draft transport report was received at the meeting on 7th March 2022, an updated, final version will be provided in the coming days, following the conclusion of our consultant’s ongoing discussions with the Highways Authority’s engaged consultant.
RCC recognise that whilst planning applications must be determined on an individual basis, Homes England now control the two major housing developments scheduled for Ripon. The magnitude of these developments mean that this council consider that the impact of the West Lane development must be taken into consideration when assessing the proposals for the Ripon Barracks Site.
RCC consider that the proposals for the Ripon Barracks redevelopment should be limited to 800 no. dwellings in accordance with the Ripon City Plan, which is the Council’s adopted policy on planning, and that permission is granted on that basis.
Once the developments at West Lane and Ripon Barracks (limited to 800 no. dwellings) are completed and an assessment of the impact of those developments on the transport network in the City has been undertaken that a further application for additional units at the Ripon Barracks site could be considered.