North Yorkshire Council News

North Yorkshire Council News

North Yorkshire Council News

Families across Harrogate, Filey and Whitby are facing major changes after North Yorkshire Council approved plans to close three long-standing care homes and replace them with new specialist dementia care hubs.

The council says the move will modernise adult social care services, improve support for vulnerable residents and save millions of pounds each year — but it also marks the end of an era for several well-known local facilities.

The care homes set to close

The following homes will shut under the plans:

  • Station View in Harrogate
  • Silver Birches in Filey
  • Larpool Lane in Whitby

They will be replaced by two new purpose-built care and support hubs in Harrogate and Scarborough.

Where the new hubs will be built

Two modern 60-bed facilities are planned:

  • Harrogate: New hub on Ainsty Road (£15.7m investment)
  • Scarborough area: New hub in Middle Deepdale, Eastfield (£16.9m investment)

Both centres will provide:

  • Specialist dementia care
  • Bed-based intermediate care
  • Support for people leaving hospital
  • Care for residents with complex needs

Why North Yorkshire Council says change is needed

Council officers say demand for specialist dementia care is rising rapidly across the county.

In the last two years alone:

  • Dementia-related residential placements in Harrogate have risen by 12%
  • Scarborough has seen a 10% increase

The authority also says older buildings are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain.

Rising repair costs

According to council reports:

  • Station View in Harrogate has already required more than £300,000 in maintenance over four years
  • A further £1.9 million in repairs is expected at the site
  • The Filey and Whitby homes have already cost more than £1.1 million in maintenance
  • Another £3.5 million would be needed to keep them operational

What the council said

Hannah Brown, North Yorkshire Council’s commissioning and provider services development manager, said rising dementia care costs were placing growing pressure on health and adult services budgets.

She said the authority was increasingly being forced to buy high-cost specialist placements from the independent sector, often requiring additional one-to-one care support.

What happens next?

Planning applications for the new hubs are expected to be submitted this summer.

If approved:

  • Construction would begin in June 2027
  • Both hubs are expected to open in August 2028

The scheme forms part of a wider £60 million transformation of dementia care services across North Yorkshire, with three more care and support hubs also planned elsewhere in the county.

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North Yorkshire Council Leader Faces Leadership Challenge from Keane Duncan

The leadership of North Yorkshire Council is set for a decisive vote this week as Conservative councillors prepare to choose their group leader — a move that could determine who runs the authority.

Councillor Keane Duncan has confirmed he will challenge current leader Carl Les for control of the North Yorkshire Conservative Group.

Key Vote on May 6

The vote will take place at the group’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 6. With Conservatives and aligned independents holding 45 of the council’s 90 seats, the result is expected to directly influence who becomes council leader at the next full meeting.

  • If Carl Les wins: he remains leader of North Yorkshire Council
  • If Keane Duncan wins: he is likely to become the new council leader

This internal vote is therefore critical to the future political direction of North Yorkshire.

Rising Profile of Keane Duncan

Councillor Duncan, who represents Norton, is one of the most prominent younger figures in local government. He became the UK’s youngest council leader in 2019 at Ryedale District Council, aged just 24.

Now 31, he:

  • Was elected to North Yorkshire Council in 2022
  • Ran for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire in 2024
  • Finished second to Labour’s David Skaith

He also previously served as executive member for highways before being removed from the role by Carl Les in a cabinet reshuffle in June 2025.

Strained Relations Behind the Challenge

The leadership contest follows reported tensions between Duncan and Les after last year’s reshuffle.

Confirming his candidacy, Duncan said he had been nominated by colleagues and was looking forward to presenting “a positive case” for leadership at the AGM.

Long-Serving Leader Faces First Test

Carl Les, 76, has led North Yorkshire Council since 2015 and was awarded an OBE in 2023 for services to local government.

He described the leadership vote as an internal Conservative Group matter, stating he remains elected as council leader until the end of the current term.

This is understood to be the first direct leadership challenge he has faced during his tenure.

Why This Matters

This leadership vote could reshape decision-making across North Yorkshire, including:

  • Transport and highways policy
  • Local economic development
  • Housing and planning strategy
  • Council budget priorities

With control finely balanced, the outcome will be closely watched across the region.

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North Yorkshire Council News – 01.04.2026

Harrogate Spring Water expansion rejected after fierce backlash over Rotary Wood

Plans to expand the Harrogate Spring Water site in Harrogate have been dramatically rejected by North Yorkshire Council, following intense public opposition and a high-profile campaign to protect Rotary Wood.

The proposed development, backed by Danone, promised more than 50 new jobs and a £2.3 million annual boost to the local economy. But it came at the cost of around 500 trees in a woodland many residents consider part of Harrogate’s identity.

Councillors refused the application despite planning officers recommending approval, raising concerns that replacement planting would not make up for the loss and that the design failed to fit the local environment.

The decision follows more than 1,000 objections, a peaceful protest outside the planning meeting, and vocal opposition from well-known figures including Judi Dench, Joanna Lumley, Sam West and Jonathan Porritt.

Dame Judi Dench described Rotary Wood as a “living woodland” built by the community, warning it should not be treated as expendable.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon welcomed the outcome, saying “common sense has prevailed,” but cautioned that future proposals could still threaten the site.

Harrogate Spring Water said it was “disappointed” by the decision, insisting the plans balanced environmental responsibility with economic growth. The company is now reviewing its options, including a possible appeal or revised application.

The ruling marks a major moment in one of Harrogate’s most contentious planning battles, with the future of Rotary Wood still uncertain.

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A woman with long dark brown hair and wearing a dark blue long-sleeved top and grey leggings smiles at a man as they walk outside a building with a leisure centre sign in white lettering. The man has short grey hair and is wearing dark-framed glasses, a blue polo-shirt and dark trousers. A silver car is parked behind the pair outside the leisure centre building.

From giving you a healthy new start to keeping children entertained this Easter, spring is full of fresh opportunities

In this new edition of Your North Yorkshire, we look at how our Healthy You programme is transforming lives and there is the chance to sign your children up to our popular programme of holiday activities.Our leader also warns about a multi-million pound cut to our highways budget. There’s an archives feature on farming over the years and a competition to win tickets to see music stars in Scarborough.

A yellow coloured resurfacing vehicle is pictured on a country lane with green fields behind it and a blue sky with white clouds above. A section of the road has been dug along the side of field.

Warning over work to maintain your roads as £20 million in vital highways funding has been cut

A decision to reduce our highways budget by £20 million will have a severe impact on maintaining the county’s roads, the council leader has warned.

Find out more

A woman with long dark brown hair and wearing a dark blue long-sleeved top and grey leggings crouches down in front of a man who is seated while using gym equipment. The woman has her hands outstretched and is giving advice to the man, who has short grey hair and is wearing dark-framed glasses, a blue polo-shirt and dark trousers.

A fresh start – Learn more about our Healthy You programme to bring a new chapter to your life

Find out about one man’s inspirational story after he took part in our Healthy You sessions that are available at the county’s health and wellbeing hubs.

Watch here

News in brief: From a landmark sculpture to improving high streets

Catch up with the latest council news and updates

A man with dark brown hair and wearing a black top, blue trousers, climbing shoes and a climbing harness around his waist stands in front of an indoor climbing wall with his hands outstretched while talking to a group of six children. The children are wearing T-shirts or hooded tops with dark coloured tracksuit bottoms and trainers.

Holiday activities to help keep your children active and entertained

Our FEAST programme of holiday activities has supported thousands of children and young people, and a new programme is available this Easter.

Find out more

A black wheelie bin with a light blue lid is pictured in the foreground with a white coloured logo saying North Yorkshire Council printed on the front. A refuse collection lorry is pictured behind the bin on a residential road. The lorry is mainly light grey in colour with bright orange hydraulic equipment at its rear.

Find out how your services with be delivered during the Easter period

Learn more about changes to your services such as recycling collections and opening times of our health and wellbeing hubs over the Easter break.

Details available here

Find out what’s on in North Yorkshire

Read our Visit North Yorkshire listings for what’s happening across the county.

See what’s on

A black and white photo of a young boy who is pictured holding out a feeding bottle while surround by four lambs. One of the lambs is looking up and feeding from the bottle. The young boy has short hair and is wearing a jumper, black shorts, white socks and black shoes.

Farming matters – How agriculture has been so important for our communities over the decades

North Yorkshire has a long and proud history with farming, and we take a look in our archives at how agriculture has been a part of life in the county.

Explore the archive 

A montage of images including a photo of a woman with her left arm above her head and her right hand on her hips. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a light blue denim jacket and a black T-shirt with a yellow motif with an abstract image of a face on it. She is also wearing a red and maroon coloured headscarf and sunglasses with orange-tinted lenses. Another image is a black and white photo of three men with long hair sitting down on a sofa playing guitars. Another man dressed in a black top and black trousers in standing in the background playing a silver-coloured snare drum. A third photo shows a crowd of people watching a performance on a stage in the distance that is illuminated with bright lights. Giant screens are either side of the stage and are showing a band performing.

WIN tickets to see Anastasia or The Kooks in Scarborough

Enter the competition here

Leisure

Bin collections

Have your say

Jobs

Cost of living

Roadworks

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North Yorkshire Council News – 15.02.26

From support in schools to a new mobile library, find out how we are supporting you closer to your home 

In this new edition of Your North Yorkshire, we look at how we will carry on providing key services despite significant challenges on our budget, and how support for pupils with additional needs is helping them to enjoy school closer to home. There is also the chance to learn more about our new mobile library service, an archives feature on our love of animals and a competition to win a Bettys hamper.

How our budget will help provide services to you despite financial pressures which we are facing

Find out in 66 seconds how we are balancing major financial pressures in North Yorkshire while still providing vital services for our communities.

Watch here

Your chance to get your garden blooming with our waste recycling service‘s launch for this year

With spring on the horizon, make sure you take the chance to sign up for our garden waste recycling service which is launching for another year.

Find out more

News in brief: From a Ukrainian choir to a milestone for Scarborough

Catch up with the latest council news and updates

How our support has helped Keenan to enjoy school again

Find out how Keenan has benefited from our support for pupils with special educational needs to make sure they can go to school closer to home.

Find out more

New mobile library is on the road to support you close to home

Our new mobile library has been launched and is stopping off across North Yorkshire to give you access to books and key services on your doorstep.

Watch here 

Find out what’s on in North Yorkshire

Read our Visit North Yorkshire listings for what’s happening across the county.

See what’s on

Animal magic – How our love of pets has been captured in endearing images over the years

We are well known as a nation of animal lovers, and here we take a look in our archives at just how pets have formed a part of life in North Yorkshire.

Explore the archive 

WIN a Bettys hamper to celebrate the arrival of Easter

Enter the competition here

Leisure

Bin collections

Have your say

Jobs

Cost of living

Roadworks

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A group of four women all wearing gym kit are pictured walking together while laughing. Two of the women have dark hair while another has long blonde hair tied in a ponytail and the fourth woman has long grey hair and is carrying a purple exercise mat.

Find out how to start 2026 with our help to get fit and healthier as well as a chance of a new career

In this new edition of Your North Yorkshire, we look at how getting moving can be the start of a new chapter for you in 2026 as well as the inspiring stories of people who have signed up to our adult learning courses to improve skills and job opportunities. There is also a look back in our archives with the county at work and the chance to win a free wedding ceremony overseen by one of our registrars.

A group of walkers are pictured in front of an historic abbey which is built of light brown stone. At the front of the group are three women smiling and wearing dark coloured winter coats and blue jeans. The woman on the left has a dark brown woollen hat on and the woman on the right is wearing an orange hat.

On the move – Find out how 2026 can be the year for you to get more active and feeling better

Even the smallest changes can make the biggest of differences to helping you have a healthier and more active lifestyle as we enter the new year.

Watch the video

An older woman with short grey hair and wearing glasses and a black cardigan and a purple top underneath is sat at a desk with a black keyboard and computer monitor in front of her. A woman with long blond hair and wearing glasses and a bright red jacket is sitting next to her and laughing.

School of thought – How signing up to our courses can help boost skills and open up careers

Find out how a 93-year-old pensioner as well as a young entrepreneur have been inspired after taking part in courses run by our adult learning service.

Find out more

North Yorkshire Council News

News round-up: From country walks to striking new artwork plans

Catch up with the latest council news and updates

A crowd of people stands in front of a stage with a band performing on it. Two giant screens are either side of the stage and show a woman with long brown hair and wearing a dark top who is singing into a microphone.

Find a rewarding and inspiring career to start the new year

From helping to stage gigs by some of the world’s leading music stars to rewarding roles in care and education, a host of jobs are on offer with us.

Find a new job

A black and white photo of a group of women collecting fish in a series of boxes. A woman wearing a dark-coloured apron while carrying an empty basket is on the right of the photo, and a group of men in dark coloured clothing are standing on a wall above the women who are working.

The working lives which have shaped our county over the years

With the new year and the return to work, we take a look in our archives at the jobs that have helped to define our communities in bygone eras.

Explore our archives

North Yorkshire Council News

Find out what’s on across North Yorkshire

Read our Visit North Yorkshire listings for what’s on in the county over the next month.

See what’s on

A montage of images showing a bride and groom walking down the aisle with people in a wedding congregation either side of them. The bride is wearing a long white wedding dress and the groom has a dark coloured morning suit on with a white shirt, a cream-coloured cravat and a light-coloured floral buttonhole. The second image shows a room ornately decorated for a wedding reception with a series of tables with cutlery and white crockery on them along with big white floral displays. A third image shows a couple standing by a light-coloured stone wall of a historic building overlooking green fields and the sea in the background. The sun is shining as the couple in wedding outfits embrace and kiss. The bride is wearing a white coloured wedding dress and the groom has a dark blue suit on with a white shirt underneath.

WIN a free wedding ceremony conducted by our registrars

Enter the competition here

Schools

Cost of living

Roadworks

Leisure

Bin collections

Have your say

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Council HousesWhat’s happening in Ripon and Bedale?

If you live in Ripon or Bedale, new affordable homes could soon be added to the local housing stock.

North Yorkshire Council is planning to buy 10 newly built homes across the two market towns, using a mix of social rent and shared ownership.

How many homes – and where?

  • 🏠 10 homes in total

  • 📍 Ripon:

    • 4 three-bedroom shared ownership properties

  • 📍 Bedale:

    • Remaining homes, including social rented housing

All properties would be purchased from a private developer.

How will it be funded?

The council is applying for £800,000 from Homes England to help make the scheme viable.

Grant breakdown:

  • £100,000 per social rented home

  • £60,000 per shared ownership home

Additional funding sources include:

  • £936,000 in council borrowing

  • £200,000 from the Housing Revenue Account

  • £635,000 expected from shared ownership sales

Why does this matter locally?

According to council housing officers:

  • There is clear demand for affordable housing in both towns

  • Local councillors in Ripon and Bedale have been consulted

  • Both areas have formally supported the proposals

Housing delivery manager John Burroughs said the funding would ensure new homes strengthen council finances rather than strain them.

What’s already been agreed?

✔ The council’s executive committee has approved the purchases
✔ Senior officers have signed off the grant application
✔ The plan supports the council’s wider housing strategy

The bigger picture

North Yorkshire Council has a long-term goal to deliver 500 new council homes by 2029 — and these homes would be part of that wider commitment.

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North Yorkshire Council News

ImageA group of four holding certificates at the Yorkshire in Bloom awards

Yorkshire In Bloom awards success

Recent Yorkshire in Bloom award successes include success for some of our own sites plus those looked after by voluntary groups.

26 September 2025

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