The new lockdown arrangements will alter once again traffic flows in the City.
The changes will affect the monitoring of schemes like The Groves, where the Council have so far been unable to produce before and after figures for air pollution and congestion.
A review of the scheme was promised early in 2021.
Very low traffic levels on Penley’s Grove Street during first lockdown
The effected streets were – like many in other parts of the City – virtually deserted during the first lockdown. Alternative routes have also been quiet since the beginning of the year.
Now the Council has formally changed the The Groves restrictions twice in the space of 7 days.
As no figures have been shared with residents it is impossible to judge whether the changes are justified.
However, the absence of any action on safety aspects of the scheme – including the controversial contra flow cycle routes – tells its own story.
Reopening the restricted access, at least for emergency vehicles, would also have been worth addressing as pressures on the NHS grow. .
Elsewhere, West Offices leaked a plan to the media yesterday which said that foot-street hours were being changed to 10:30am – 5:00pm during the lockdown.
There was no consultation on the proposal and no decision appears in the Councils official “on line” log. Sources say that it is aimed at making access to “takeaways” easier.
Maybe so.
But it is unclear why the revision simply didn’t reinstate the traditional footstreet hours (10:30am – 4:00pm). At least the signage for that restriction is already available!
York Central
It seems that the Council will determine the detailed planning application for the York Central site during the lockdown.
The proposal is likely to go to a public inquiry but when and how that could be arranged under the pandemic restrictions remains to be seen.
The applicants have failed to satisfy perfectly reasonable objections to transport access proposals for the site.
The Marble Arch pedestrian access
The Leeman Road tunnel (next to Marble Arch) would still be made one way with cyclists apparently expected to brave a deluge of liquid manure during wet weather.
Wilton Rise existing footbridge
Problems with the poor access for cyclists in the Wilton Rise area have also not been addressed.
Local residents – quite legitimately – are objecting to losing pedestrian access down the current line of Leeman Road as the railway museum stubbornly pursues its “annexation” policies.
Other more extreme objections have been lodged – including the impractical “no vehicles” lobby – but it is the failure of the developers to satisfy the concerns of “moderate” residents, which may lead to lengthy delays is getting this important scheme actually built.
The controversial Spark container village on Piccadilly will not have to provide a rent bond or guarantor for their new lease.
The requirements were agreed in February by Executive Councillor Nigel Ayre as part of a package aimed at securing taxpayers interests.
The Spark owners had promised a share of profits on the scheme when, in 2016, they first promoted the idea of moving second hand shipping containers onto the Piccadilly site.
The profits never materialised and there were delays in making rent payments and in fulfilling planning conditions.
Other causes of concern related to the appearance of the site – which is located in a Conservation Area – and the effect on nearby residential properties.
Letter from local businessman
Yesterday Cllr Ayre caved into pressure and ditched the conditions which had been aimed at securing the councils financial interests.
He was warned by lawyers that, under current government COVID regulations, the Council might be unable to take back possession of the site even if rent arrears built up.
Currently the site is occupied on a “tenancy at will” basis.
The decision has drawn criticism from other traders and professionals one of whom has called for an inquiry into the whole affair (left).
City of York Council have today written to their appointed planning inspectors as part of the examination process of the Local Plan.
The Local Plan will provide a framework to guide and promote development, and to protect the quality of York’s unique historic, natural and built environment. The document will set strategic priorities for the whole city and forms the basis for planning decisions for the next 15 years and beyond.
The Council have now completed the technical work required to provide an update on household growth and housing need in the city in response to the Inspector’s July letter regarding the latest household projections released by the Office for National Statistics this year.
Using the recent publication of updated household projections, including taking into account the latest demographic and economic trends, the Council has determined that the housing need in York has not changed materially since the last assessment in January 2019.
The previous report identified a need for 790 dwellings per annum (dpa) and the economic-led need within this new report is as high as 788 dpa. We therefore continue to support our proposed modification to the plan for a housing requirement of 822 dpa (790 dpa objectively assessed housing need plus a shortfall of 32 dpa) as discussed at our phase one hearing sessions in December 2019.
The letter also states the Council continues to work on a response to the concerns expressed in a letter on 12 June 2020 regarding the methodology for determining Green Belt boundaries.
The Council is updating the Green Belt Topic Paper Addendum and its Annexes to simplify and clarify the methodology.
That work has not at this stage revealed any need for significant changes to the proposed Green Belt boundaries.
The letter also confirms the Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA), has been completed but is with Natural England, our statutory consultee, for their view on the conclusions reached. Following their response, the HRA will be submitted as soon as possible and we will engage with interested parties on the conclusions set out in the report.
City of York Council Executive Member for Finance and Performance, Councilor Nigel Ayre, said: “We are committed to delivering a sound Local Plan for the city as soon as possible.
“I would like to thank City of York Council’s planning officers and the Government inspectors who continue to progress the plan throughout these uniquely difficult times.”
This an application to site a 20 metre high phone mast on York Road. It is technically in the Acomb Ward but may impact on Westfield residents. NB. The mast is higher than the existing mature trees in the area and may therefore be visible from some distance.
This an application relating to the fourth of the six self build plots allocated to the rear of Tudor Road on the Lowfields development. It is classified as being 2.5 storeys high but comes within the height limitation applicable to this development (see extract).
NB The above applications for new windows relate to blocks of FLATS. Planning permission is not normally required for a change of windows at HOUSES unless they are Listed or located in a Conservation Area.
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32 Rosemary Road York YO24 3FN
Erection of 1no. two storey detached dwelling (Plot 4 Former Lowfield School site)
NB. These Rosemary Road applications relate to “self-build” units which will be constructed to the rear of Tudor Road. Planning applications have now been submitted for 3 of the available 6 plots. While many may feel that the designs bring some welcome high-quality innovation to the site, the main problem with self build schemes can be the length of time it takes to complete work. If this can be overcome, then the allocation of additional self build plots, using the land which was reserved for Yorspace (communal housing), might be a useful step towards the early completion of building works across the site as a whole.
Erection of single storey extension extending 6.00 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.40 metres and a total height of 3.40 metres
