Overview

• The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority unanimously rejected plans for a safari park at Brockholes Farm, citing significant visual and environmental harm to the protected landscape.
• The proposed development included enclosures for giraffes and rhinos, but was linked to operators of a recently closed zoo with a history of animal welfare issues.
• Planners criticized the project for its 'haphazard buildings and large concreted areas,' which conflicted with conservation objectives of the national park.
• Unauthorized construction had already begun on the site, prompting the authority to instruct enforcement measures to remove the illegal structures.
• The developer, New Roots Holding Company Ltd., sought to diversify an existing holiday-let business with a pre-bookable wildlife attraction focused on conservation and education.