Plans by Harrogate Spring Water to extend its factory into Rotary Wood remain under consideration as campaigners, councillors, and conservation groups continue to raise objections.
The proposal, which seeks to develop on land owned by North Yorkshire Council, was originally granted outline permission in 2017.
However, full approval is dependent on meeting a number of conditions, which campaigners argue have not yet been satisfied.
Groups including Pinewoods Conservation Trust, Save Rotary Wood, CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), and Green Party councillors have formally objected to the development.
Concerns raised include biodiversity and ecological surveys, the scale of tree loss, and whether mitigation measures meet planning requirements. Campaigners say around 500 trees could be removed under the current proposals.
Cllr Mike Schofield said:
"This is our community space that is well-used.
"It’s our beating heart, it’s our healthy lungs.
"Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
"We need to consider this application very carefully."
Cllr Arnold Warneken (Green) added:
"Do we really want to cut down a wood that our community planted only 20 years ago, and is a much-loved and well-used amenity?
"Can the Council be sure that this is legally sound, when the biodiversity picture has been so disjointed?
"Should it be allowed, when it never met the conditions of the outline permission?"
North Yorkshire Council, which owns the land, will make the final decision on whether the extension can proceed.
The authority receives an annual levy of 0.5% of revenue from Harrogate Spa Water.
The company has proposed mitigation measures, including offsetting biodiversity loss, but negotiations on these plans are ongoing.
The outcome of the application will determine whether the expansion can go ahead.
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