The government Planning Inspectorate has ruled against an appeal to keep a hand car wash operation open in Harrogate.
In April, applicants Adnan Rusool and Mohammed Khader were refused permission to operate the car wash at 81 Skipton Road and so went on to appeal.
The Planning Inspectorate representative visited the site earlier this month and concurred with North Yorkshire Council’s decision saying the main issue was the effect the car wash would have on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties.
The Planning Inspectorate’s report stated: “The appeal site is on a busy through route within the town of Harrogate. This section of the road is predominantly residential in character, with offices and commercial uses interspersed within terraces of two-storey housing. The appeal proposal involves the change of use of part of the premises to a car wash and valet facility which operates seven days per week.
“A Noise Impact Assessment (NIA) has been carried out which states that a full jet wash and valet took place. It is not clear from the NIA where this was carried out. Furthermore, the NIA states that it was carried out assuming the use of two jet washers operating simultaneously, however no assumptions have been made regarding the use of vacuum cleaners or other equipment. Moreover, the application does not indicate the number of car washing bays proposed.”
It went on to say that although the NIA indicates that noise levels resulting from assumptions would not be intrusive, the Planning Inspectorate could not be certain that noise and general disturbance generated from the comings and goings of customers to the appeal site – which would include noise from car engines, car doors slamming, car radios and people talking – had been accounted for or that the activities on site would be confined to two jet washes.
“I am not persuaded that that the information provided robustly demonstrates that noise from the appeal proposal would result in an acceptable noise environment for neighbouring occupiers. I have considered whether the Council’s proposed condition requiring further noise monitoring would overcome these concerns and have concluded that it would not,” continued the report.
The Planning Inspectorate concluded that there was an “unacceptable risk” that the operation of the premises as a car wash and valet facility could adversely affect the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties, particularly those at 85 Skipton Road.
