Celebrating 25 years of Playday and 800 years of play in York

Playday – the first Wednesday in August – is 25 years old this year. For a quarter of a century, the UK has marked Playday by a celebration of children’s right to play, as proclaimed by the United Nations.

York has been active for many years in celebrating Playday. In this special year for the city, City of York Council and local organisations will be linking their Playday activities to the York 800 celebrations. Children have been playing in York ever since the city existed – which means the city can now celebrate at least eight centuries of play!

A clutch of exciting events have already been planned in York, but more are needed for Playday to reach families in all parts of the city. Co-ordinators are appealing to all children’s and youth organisations, community groups and even just families and neighbours in York to organise their own local Playday event.

(more…)

Houses selling quicker in West York

The spring has seen some movement in the housing market in west York. Recent sales have included properties in Otterwood Lane, Westfield Place, Foxton and Ullswater. Prices have generally been below £200k.

Chain free properties currently listed include a 2 bedroomed property in St James Croft at £140k, a 3 bed property in Kingsway West for £120k along with a 2 bed semi in Wains Road costing £120K and a 3 bed semi in Leven Road is priced at £160k.

Some properties in the City are still being discounted. A 1 bed flat in Peel Street is now available for £110K while a 2 bed terraced property in Upper Newborough Street is available for £112K
A 2 bedroomed property on Eaton Court is advertised at £122K while a 1 bedroomed property in the same street is priced at £115K

Rental prices are stable. A 3 bed house in Barkston Avenue is advertised at £595 pm while £675 will get you properties in either Kingsway West or Danebury Drive.

Even in the same locality the property market can be quite volatile. A property in Lingfield Crescent recently sold for £250k having appreciated at a rate of around 10% pa over 14 years. On the other hand a seller in Fairfield Court faced an annual loss of nearly 8% over a 5 year period of ownership.

More shops in Westfield to become homes?

A trend seems to be emerging where shop units in the Front Street area are being converted into residential accommodation. The numbers concerned are not yet significant but may be a reaction to the large number of empty shop units in the street.

During July the planning applications submitted included 45 Front Street York YO24 3BR – Change of use of part ground and first floor from retail to self contained flat & Floral Elegance 49 Front Street York YO24 3BZ Conversion of ground floor rear into a 1 bedroom flat

Elsewhere applications have been submitted for changes to facia signage and the instillation of condenser units at 75 York Road