Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

 Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward. 

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference 

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7 Bachelor Hill York YO24 3BD

Single storey rear extension 

Ref. No: 19/02030/FUL 

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Former Lowfield School Dijon Avenue York

Non-material amendment to permitted application 17/02428/FULM – Alterations to bedrooms, house types, elevations, roof mounted PV, masterplan, FFL’s & boundary treatments 

Ref. No: 19/01856/NONMAT

This application contains a large number of details changes to the Lowfield plans. Some were submitted as long ago as August but have not been subject to local consultation. Many are minor in nature or will have little impact on the existing local community. Some are more far reaching including a proposal to remove the existing perimeter metal railings and replace with a wooden boarded fence.. Leaving aside the additional costs involved in such a proposal, the railings are valued by some neighbouring house owners as they offer good security. They also allow wild animals such as hedgehogs to move freely around the neighbourhood. We think that individual neighbours should have been consulted on these changes.

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

 Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward. 

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference 

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Windsor House 22 Ascot Way York YO24 4QZ

Conditions 3, 4 and 5 – 18/02177/FUL 

Ref. No: AOD/19/00326 

NB Concerns lighting and materials

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81 Acomb Wood Drive York YO24 3XN

Remove 3 lower limbs from Oak protected by Tree Preservation Order no. 26 

Ref. No: 19/01982/TPO 

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Acomb Bowling Club Front Street York YO24 3BZ

Non-material amendment to permitted application 18/00586/FULM – Plot 4 repositioned; retaining wall structure to rear gardens amended (on the east side of the site); changes to external elevations including addition of canopies. and bay windows. 

Ref. No: 19/01575/NONMAT 

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received

30% chance of winning a planning appeal in York

Latest figures published by the York Council suggest that anyone who has a planning application rejected by the local authority has a 30% chance of having the decision reversed on appeal. Appeals are considered by independent inspectors.

The figures reveal that inspectors rejected two appeals against decisions that the planing committee had made and which were in conflict with the recommendations of local planning officers.

One of the these concerned the controversial Spark Container Village who tried to avoid providing cladding on the public frontage of the shipping containers.

Some 18 months after the containers were occupied, the cladding has still not been provided. With the Council still not having advertised the Piccadilly site for sale, there is growing concern that the situation will drift on.

The planning permission for the containers does expire in June 2020 so the matter must come to a head within the next few months.

No takers for Care Home contract at Lowfields

Care home site

According to a notice published earlier today, the York Council has received
no suitable tenders for the provision of a care home at its Lowfields site.

The Council has already invested heavily in providing infrastructure,
including roads, at the site. They promised a 30-month building timetable in  response to concerns expressed by residents in 2016 who feared that the nuisance caused by building works could drag on for a decade.

The failure to find a development partner for the care home, together with
delays on the communal housing section, means that there is no end in sight for the development work.

The delay  notice says, ” This item has been withdrawn because, following a tender process, officers have been unable to appoint a developer. Officers need to consult the market and consider the options before the Executive can make a decision”.

According to the Councils Elderly Care programme, which was last discussed in 2018, work on building the care home was due to start next month. Officials at that they said that they were confident on getting a good deal for the site following “soft market” testing. 

Now a delay on the start of building work on the home of over 12 months  seems inevitable.

There have been similar delays at Oakhaven on York Road where work is now over 3 years behind schedule.

Delays also dog the Haxby Hall redevelopment site on the other side of the
City.

Despite the delays in providing new care homes, existing facilities have
been closed. Some like Willow House next to the Bar walls remain empty.

Ironically, the original plan to provide a, mainly private sector funded,
care village on the site of the Lowfield’s school had been developed in 2010 to the point where work was scheduled to start. The scheme was shelved by the incoming Labour Council and 9 years later there is little to show but some “roads to nowhere” and large spoil heaps.

The site is now has little security. It is attracting children who want to play
on the dangerous spoil heaps.

The football pitches have long gone so alternative children’s play facilities
are non existent.

Even the Kingsway multi user games area has been turned into a building
compound for another development..

Lowfields plans in 2016

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

 Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward. 

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference 

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Windsor House 22 Ascot Way York YO24 4QZ

Conditions 5 (Site Boundaries); 6 (Proposed Materials); 13 (Landscaping); 14 (Cycle Parking Facilities) of 18/01467/GRG3 

Ref. No: AOD/19/00319 

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1 Croftside York YO26 5LT

Dormer window and 1no. rooflight to west side elevation, velux balcony window to east side elevation, and 2no. rooflights to front elevation 

Ref. No: 19/01848/FUL 

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25 Green Lane Acomb York YO24 3DA

Use of rear yard for timber and storage business. (Access from Acomb car park)

Ref. No: 19/01823/FUL 

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received

More changes at Spark

The shipping container village on Piccadilly may look a little different this winter. Spark has applied for planning permission to install plastic sheeting to close the gap between the canvass roof and the side of the development.

No sign yet of the cladding being installed. Nor has the council confirmed that they have received their share of the “profits” on the enterprise from last year.

Acomb/Westfield neighbourhood plan proposals withdrawn

No show on Lendal Post office scheme

The group of residents wanting to set up a “Neighbourhood Forum” and draw up a “Neighbourhood Plan” covering Acomb and Westfield have withdrawn their proposal.

The about turn came less than 48 hours before the proposal was due to be determined by the York Council.

Consultation on the proposal had taken over 3 months to conclude and had cost several thousands of pounds in advertising and staff costs. These costs will have to be borne by taxpayers.

In addition, resident’s groups and individuals spent a lot of abortive time responding to the proposal.

It became clear several weeks ago that the proposal – which was labelled as “too big” to meet government guidelines – had little local support from residents.

It is possible that alternative proposals, covering perhaps the historic Acomb Front Street area, may emerge. Another possibility is for a plan for an area including the Acomb Ward and adjacent open spaces within the A1237 boundary.

Either way, the Council may in future wish to ask for a deposit to cover the cost of any work, that it has undertaken on a proposal, if it is withdrawn before it reaches the decision stage!

Lendal Post Office

Earlier in the week, the Council considered a proposal from the Guildhall Labour Party that the, now redundant, Lendal Post Office building be registered as an asset of community value. This would have allowed residents to have first option to buy the building (before it went onto the open market).

Council officials explained that the building did not meet the legal test for listing. Nevertheless, the proposal was pursued to a decision meeting.

None of the supporters of the listing turned up at the meeting and so the proposal then fell.

Another example of using scarce taxpayers’ resources unnecessarily.

The money would be better spent on improving street level public services.

Plans shared to shape future development on Bootham Park site

A map of the Bootham site showing area ownership

Residents and businesses can have their say on plans which could guide future developments on the former Bootham Park hospital site.

The former hospital site, which includes a series of Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings, is back on the market after a sale fell through earlier this year.

While City of York Council and local health partners do not own the site, they have joined forces to influence the plans of future owners.

The council and the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have included their own land to the north and east of the former hospital to show how a larger site could respond to the healthcare, housing, transport and green space needs of this area and the wider city.

The site development report was produced after consultation late last year, and shows how a sensitive and appropriate development could provide:

  • 147 dwellings
  • 52 key worker apartments
  • a new physiotherapy suite, medical training and research centre of excellence
  • a 70 bed care home
  • 60 assisted living/supported living apartments
  • a new children’s nursery
  • Multi-storey car parking to maintain existing parking capacity and open up the site
  • extensive public open space

Councillor Nigel Ayre, City of York Council executive member for finance and performance, said:

“The consultation last year confirmed how important the Bootham Park Hospital site is to York and its residents.

“It has been a focal point for the community and played a huge role in the city’s healthcare since the hospital building first opened its doors in 1777.

“While we don’t own the site we are exploring how to make sure that future developments respect that heritage and play a part in meeting some of York’s 21st Century challenges.

“So please take a look at the plans, give us your feedback and we’ll use them to influence future owners of the site.”

You have until Friday 11 October to make your comments on all elements of this proposal.

You can see all the details and join the conversation in a number of ways.

Exhibitions (available from Tuesday 17 September)

  • City of York Council’s West Offices, Station Rise, YO1 6GA
  • The foyer of York Hospital, Wigginton Road, YO31 8HE

Meet the team and talk through the proposals at these events:

  • Tuesday 17 September 3pm to 6pm, Marriott Room, York Explore, Library Square, YO1 7DS
  • Saturday 21 September, 1pm to 4pm, York City Church, Citadel YO31 7EA
  • Wednesday 25 September, 4pm to 7pm, York City Church, Citadel YO31 7EA
  • Tuesday 1 October, 2pm to 5pm, York City Church, Citadel YO31 7EA

You can see all the details and find a link to an online survey (also available from 17 September) through the council website, or join the conversation on social media.

www.york.gov.uk/BoothamPark

facebook      BoothamParkYork 

twitter           @boothamparkyork 

West York neighbourhood planning boundary proposal set to be rejected

The Councils leadership is being recommended to reject a proposal which would have seen a joint neighbourhood plan prepared covering the Acomb and Westfield Wards. The proposal was widely criticised as being ”too big” to meet a key community of interest test.

The majority of respondents to the Councils consultation opposed the plan.

Opponents included the local residents association, an action group and the Westfield ward Councillors. (The Acomb Ward Councillors didn’t respond to the consultation)

A report points out the proposed population of the planning area at 23,440 is 4 x the optimum size of 5500 suggested by central; government legislation.

A council official claims that a parallel proposal to create a “Neighbourhood Forum” could be approved although the report fails to analyse claims that the governance structure of the proposed body is bogus.  The forum was criticised by consultees as introducing unnecessary additional bureaucracy at least in the Westfield area where several residents groups already operate.

The report author concludes that a Neighbourhood Plan, including a revised “forum”, could be approved for the Acomb ward only.

We believe that the plan to exclude the Westfield area is correct.

However the proposal to jump to an “Acomb Ward only” model is premature. Such a move would rule out drawing up a neighbourhood plan for the Front Street area. Part of this district includes the Acomb Ward side of York Road which would be subject to a different plan under the new proposals.

Front Street in older times. This part of Westfield may require better protection.

No consideration has been given to including the area of land between the built-up area and the A1237 northern by pass) in any new arrangements, thereby failing to recognise the importance given by many residents in the area to the protection of open space.

The Council should simply reject the current ill-considered neighbourhood forum and plan proposals which are before it.

New proposals may then emerge which could be subject to re-consultation.

Latest planning applications for the Westfield Ward

 Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Westfield ward. 

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference 

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90 Tennent Road York YO24 3HG

Two storey side extension, single storey rear extension and canopy to entrance 

Ref. No: 19/01793/FUL 

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Windsor House 22 Ascot Way York YO24 4QZ

Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) of permitted application 18/02177/FUL for relocation of sub-station. 

Ref. No: 19/01687/FUL 

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Acomb Methodist Church Front Street York YO24 3BX

Non-material amendment to permitted application 15/02252/FUL to amend the design of doors inserted to 2no. front entrances 

Ref. No: 19/01009/NONMAT 

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Representations can be made in favour of, or in objection to, any application via the Planning on line web site.  http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/

NB. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received