Local Plan Area
CHAPTER 2 - PLANNING CONTEXT & STRATEGY CHAPTER 2 PLANNING CONTEXT AND STRATEGY THE LOCAL PLAN AREA 2.1 Harrogate District is one of the largest and most attractive in England. It extends over an area of 1,308 square kilometres (505 sq. miles) to the north of the Leeds/Bradford conurbation and on the eastern fringes of the Yorkshire Dales. It is broadly contained to the east by the Rivers Swale, Ure and Ouse, which flow southward through the Vale of York. The River Wharfe marks the southern boundary of the District, while to the west and north, the land rises to form the Pennine upland chain. Figure 1 shows the District in its regional setting. Four parishes (Nether Poppleton, Upper Poppleton, Hessay and Rufforth) were transferred from Harrogate District to the new City of York Council area as a consequence of the local government reorganisation on 1 April 1996. This Local Plan is based on the revised administrative boundary of the District. FIG 1. REGIONAL SETTING 4 Augmented Composite - July 2009 HARROGATE DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN February 2001 CHAPTER 2 - PLANNING CONTEXT & STRATEGY 2.2 Although Harrogate District includes a number of important urban areas, it is essentially rural in character, containing about 150 villages and hamlets. The District is renowned for the quality and diversity of its landscape and wildlife. The western upland part of the District, centred on Nidderdale, was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1994. The District contains numerous, very popular countryside sites such as Fountains Abbey, Brimham Rocks and How Stean Gorge together with a considerable number of historic country houses, parks and estates which are attractive features and make a significant contribution to landscape variety.
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