PLANNING SOUGHT FOR RHS HARLOW CARR DEVELOPMENT

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (RHS) is in the final stages of seeking approval for its plan to restore the historic landscape connection between its Yorkshire garden, Harlow Carr and the Harrogate Arms, a Grade II-listed former hotel on the edge of the estate.

The gardening charity has submitted an application to remodel the land immediately surrounding the former hotel and an adjacent bath house, both of which were built in 1844 by the then owner of the estate, Henry Wright, to accommodate visitors to its mineral water spa, and to reinstate connecting views and pathways to the RHS gardens beyond.

The development will include a change of use of land, the construction of a bridge and a new public footpath to accommodate a diverted public right of way.

The bath house was converted to an exhibition and event space in 2011 and if planning is approved, the former hotel will be converted into an RHS-run café, with links to its Harlow Carr Kitchen Garden, while the surrounding area will be landscaped to emphasise views into the garden.