Planning guidance is prepared to help facilitate the planning application process, to protect and conserve important vernacular features and to promote good and sensitive design in new development and redevelopment. Links on this page take you to the various types of planning guidance produced by the Council (or by consultants on the Council's behalf):

 

Development Control guidance (page link) is general guidance and advice on the design of types of development or modification of buildings or spaces. Usually, it is  prepared by the Council's Officers and based on their professional knowledge and experience and has regard to the built and 'natural' environment particular to Harrogate District.

 

Prepared in a similar way to Development Control guidance, Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG*) has statutory status by virtue of its having undergone a period of public consultation with interested parties (and post-consultation alteration) prior to adoption.  Accordingly, SPG is the product of consensus between the Council and its consultees and carries more weight in planning terms as a consequence.  SPG covers general themes such as Landscape, Residential or Rural Development and Biodiversity. In some cases it also included site specific guidance such as the Development Brief for Station Parade, Harrogate.  You can find our current SPG, SPD and site specific guidance on our local planning and design guidance page.