PLANS to demolish a former Ripon timber yard to make way for housing have been refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

Housebuilders Red Tree Developments had acquired the former North Yorkshire Timber building on Trinity Lane last year with plans to build 13 terrace houses.

The 18th Century site was home to a timber yard up until 2018 when Cairngorm Capital – the parent company of North Yorkshire Timber – sold it for an undisclosed sum.

Harrogate Borough Council refused the housing plans over concerns it would result in the loss of a heritage asset and cause “unacceptable harm” to other historic buildings nearby, including The Federation of Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School and St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church.

Members of Ripon Civic Society have welcomed the council’s decision to stop demolition of the building which it described as an “important survival of Ripon’s industrial heritage”.

Civic society chairman Christopher Hughes said he would like to see the building converted into housing – or for other uses – rather than being bulldozed.

“We should be aiming to make use of existing structures whilst also preserving Ripon’s industrial past,” he said.

“The civic society is not going to take any greater pleasure than anyone else in the building remaining there with no use as we do want to see it used in some way.

“We are not against development – we just want the right development and we look forward to finding the right approach for this historic building in any new applications that come forward.”