Media and Labour Councillor in geography failure

Westview Close

Yorkshire Post and York Press readers will today be wondering why a Westfield Labour Councillor was given a platform to sound off about a housing development which he obviously thought was in his ward.

As we reported several weeks ago, a planning Inspector has overturned a Council decision and has allowed a small 8 home development to be built on Westview Close.

Westview Close is actually located in the Rural West ward, adjacent to the Civil Service Sports field.

It is about 1 mile away from the Westfield Ward.

“daffy” moment for Labour

It appears that the media have provoked “local” Westfield ward Councillor Dafydd Williams to condemn the decision amidst a confused diatribe about the need to establish a “Green Belt” boundary.

We have news for him. There is a Green Belt boundary and it is protected by the government.

All that has changed over the last year, is that Labour have proposed taking greenfield sites, like the Civil Service Sports field, out of the Green Belt.

Latest Planning applications – Former Knavesmire Nursing home (The Green) site plans published

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards. Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

The long awaited proposals for the former Knavesmire Nursing home site on The Green have been submitted to the Council. They show the main building being retained and converted into 4 flats.

Elsewhere on the site the extension will be demolished and 4 bungalows will be built. Some significant works to the trees on the site are also proposed.

The application will be welcomed by many as the building has been empty for around 4 years while the overgrown trees have blocked out much of the light in the area.

Westfield

Reference 13/03033/FUL

The Green development site plan. Click for larger drawing

Address Knavesmire Nursing Home 76 The Green Acomb York YO26 5LS

Proposal Conversion and partial demolition of nursing home to create 4no. apartments and 4no. bungalows with associated parking

Status Pending Consideration Application Received Mon 09 Sep 2013

Reference 13/03193/TCA

Address Knavesmire Nursing Home 76 The Green Acomb York YO26 5LS

Proposal Various tree works including fell 20 trees, Trees in the Conservation Area

Status Pending Consideration Application Received Wed 25 Sep 2013

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Reference 13/03074/FUL

Address Quicksilver 7 Acomb Court Front Street York YO24 3BJ

Proposal Change of use of first floor from retail (use Class A1) to sports facility (use Class D2)

Application Received Mon 09 Sep 2013 Status Pending Consideration
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Reference 13/03082/FUL MT26J0SJ0B800

Address 70 Gale Lane York YO24 3AA

Proposal Increasing height of roof to accommodate loft conversion (revised scheme)

Status Pending Consideration Application Received Fri 13 Sep 2013
—————————–

Acomb

Reference 13/03172/LHE http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/weeklyListResults.do?action=firstPage

Address 10 Albion Avenue York YO26 5RA

Proposal Erection of single storey extension extending 4 metres beyond the rear wall of the original house, with a height to the eaves of 2.5 metres and a total height of 3 metres

Application Received Fri 20 Sep 2013 Status Pending Consideration
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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.

York Local Plan – Save the Green Belt campaign gets another boost

The Council are now saying that they hope to have read all the representations made by residents about the draft Local Plan by the end of October.

How long it will be, before meetings start to take place at which residents will have the chance to challenge Labour’s Plan assumptions, is anyone’s guess.

Residents protest against Local Plan

However the Plan’s assumptions about the number of homes that could be built on brownfield sites continue to be eroded.

The latest planning application – for the Brecks Lane site at Strensall – is for 104 homes. That compares to an assumed capacity for the site, listed in the draft Local Plan, of 82.

Last week we learned that the British Sugar site will accommodate 1300 homes. The Local Plan forecast only 998.

In addition, around 20 planning applications for new homes have been submitted to the Council over the last 4 months, for sites where either zero residential units had been assumed in the Local Plan or where the number now planned is over 20% higher than the Local Plan estimate.

These include proposals for The Press office building in Walmgate, the Burnholme Club site and Our Lady’s school on Windsor Garth.

They do not include new “windfall” sites like the Bonding Warehouse, Ashbourne House, the Yearsley Pub not to mention Oliver House where we now understand that negotiations about the buildings future have recommenced (some 18 months after it became empty).

It is now clear that there is sufficient brownfield (previously developed) land to satisfy York’s reasonable housing needs for the foreseeable future.

What is also clear is that Labours Local Plan is discredited. They will have to re-write large sections of it.

The sooner that they start the better.

Latest Planning applications

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards. Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Acomb Ward

Erection of two storey dwelling following demolition of existing garages

Site To The Rear Of 32 Carr Lane Rosedale Avenue York

Ref. No: 13/03101/FUL | Received: Tue 17 Sep 2013 | Validated: Wed 18 Sep 2013 | Status: Pending Consideration

Two storey side and rear extension

17 Melwood Grove York YO26 5RE

Ref. No: 13/03080/FUL | Received: Fri 13 Sep 2013 | Validated: Mon 16 Sep 2013 | Status: Pending Consideration

Westfield

Increasing height of roof to accommodate loft conversion (revised scheme)

70 Gale Lane York YO24 3AA

Ref. No: 13/03082/FUL | Received: Fri 13 Sep 2013 | Validated: Mon 16 Sep 2013 | Status: Pending Consideration

Variation of condition 2 of permitted application 12/03511/FUL to alter design of rear extension

157A Gale Lane York YO24 3AG

Ref. No: 13/02630/FUL | Received: Thu 01 Aug 2013 | Validated: Thu 19 Sep 2013 | Status: Pending Consideration

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.

Oliver House – £30,000 taxpayers bill for property empty for 18 months

It has become clear why the Council’s leadership were so reluctant to answer questions about the future of the former elderly person’s home at Oliver House in Bishophill at the last council meeting.

A Freedom of Information response has revealed that the building is costing taxpayers nearly £2000 a month to keep empty.

The building has been unused since April 2012.

The only “occupants” are a firm called “ad hoc property management” who – in return for access – offer a “free” security service.

No rent or other income has been received for the property.

Discussions with the York CVS, which might have led to the building being sold to them, started in May 2012. They stalled several months ago.

The value of the prime site has been put at over £1 million with offers having apparently already been made, to the Council, by housing developers.

The Council has spent £30,000 over the last 18 months paying rates and on maintaining the empty property.

There are currently over 4500 people on the waiting list for social accommodation in the City. Many of these require single person accommodation

NB. The Guildhall has also now been empty for 8 months and is costing Council taxpayers around £160,000 a year in maintenance, rates and other costs.

Latest planning applications in Acomb and Westfield

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards. Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Acomb

Ref No: 13/02986/FUL

Location: 1A Wetherby Road Acomb York YO26 5BS

Proposal: Bay window and canopy to front

Applicant: Mrs Juliet Powell Contact: Mr J Funnell Consultation Expiry Date: 7 October 2013 Case Officer: Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level: DEL

Ref No: 13/03048/EIASP

Location: British Sugar Corporation Ltd Plantation Drive York YO26 6XF

British Sugar site

Proposal: Scoping opinion for proposed residential-lead development at former British Sugar site, Plantation Drive

Applicant: Neil Jones Consultation Expiry Date: 4 October 2013 Case Officer: Jonathan Kenyon Expected Decision DEL

Westfield

Ref No: 13/03017/FUL

Location: 100 Tennent Road York YO24 3HG

Proposal: Single storey rear extension

Applicant: Mr Filatov Consultation Expiry Date 7 October 2013 Case Officer: Elizabeth Potter Expected Decision Level DEL

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.

British Sugar residential development plans take a step forward – Methane risk revealed

The planned residential development on the former British Sugar site off Plantation Drive has taken a step forward.

click for full report

The owners have submitted a scoping document which will lead to the production of an environmental impact assessment which is an essential precursor to an outline planning application.

The latter is now expected to be lodged in early 2014.

The new development is expected to be a predominately residential led scheme, of up to 1300 homes comprising family housing at a medium density together with

• A retail centre comprising Class Al/A2/A3/A4/A5;

• A multi-use community hub (with potential for uses such as a health centre, crèche, public hall, primary school, changing facilities associated with any intensive sports uses on the site);

• Provision of open space/green infrastructure;

• Access via a new link road through Former Manor School site, Plantation Drive and Millfield Lane; and

• Demolition of the Former Manor School buildings as necessary.

The report warns of potentially harmful levels of methane and carbon dioxide on the site.

However no signs of protected wildlife species, such as Great Crested Newts, have been discovered. A “bee bank” is under threat.

The report also describes how transportation, landscape, noise, air quality and other impacts will be assessed.

195 new apartments for Hungate

A planning application for the next phase of the Hungate development has been submitted to the Council.

Click here for details

The Foss side application – a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroomed flats – is unexceptional save in one respect.

No offer is made of affordable units either on site or off site.

Instead a viability study is being prepared which will indicate “at a later date” what – if any – “affordable units” can be provided.

A precedent for a zero affordable contribution was established by a planning inspector who determined a York planning appeal recently.

The design of the flats proposed suggests that they would not address social housing needs anyway (although most of the waiting list is now made up of residents seeking 1 bedroomed accommodation).

If this means that payment to the Council, in lieu of homes, is planned then that could be a step forward.

As we have pointed out previously, there are many properties for sale in the City for around £100,000.

If the Council was a “cash in hand” purchaser they could buy up some of these and make an immediate impact on the housing waiting list.

The last batch of Hungate properties were relatively expensive (starting at over £200,000 for a small flat).

So the willingness of the developer to proceed with the next stage does provide further evidence that the country’s economic recovery is gaining momentum in York.

Latest planning applications – 56 home plan for Our Lady’s site submitted, Greggs optimistic about weather

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb and Westfield wards. Full details can be found by clicking the application reference below

Acomb
Ref No: 13/02867/FUL
Location: 136 Boroughbridge Road York YO26 6AL
Proposal: Change of use of ground floor to mixed use A1 (retail), A2 (financial and professional services) and B1a (offices) use class, retrospective creation of additional office to first floor and retrospective erection of conservatory to rear
Applicant: Mr Michael Beaufoy Consultation Expiry Date: 30 September 2013 Case Officer: Erik Matthews Expected Decision Level: DEL

Westfield

Our Lady’s school site. Click to see planning application

Ref No: 13/02892/FULM
Location: Our Ladys R C Primary School Windsor Garth York YO24 4QW
Proposal: Erection of 56 no. two storey dwellings and associated works
Applicant: Mr Joel Owen Contact Mr Mark Skeels Consultation Expiry Date 9 October 2013 Case Officer: Erik Matthews Expected Decision Level COMP

Ref No: 13/02874/FUL
Location: Greggs 5 Odsal House Front Street York YO24 3BL
Proposal: Use of highway for siting of tables and chairs in connection with existing baker’s shop
Applicant: Mrs Sara Humphries Consultation Expiry Date 30 September 2013 Case Officer: Erik Matthews Expected Decision Level DEL

Ref No: 13/02981/TPO
Location: 14 Askham Croft York YO24 3FD
Proposal: Prune Chestnut (T3,T4), Trees protected by Tree Preservation Order
Applicant: Mr David Morris Consultation Expiry Date 30 September 2013 Case Officer: Esther Priestley Expected Decision Level DEL

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.

Neighbourhood Plan for Dunnington?

As a result of the governments Localism Act 2011, local communities are encouraged to come together to get more involved in planning for their areas by producing neighbourhood plans, which are designed to guide new development.

The costs of preparing and consulting on such a plan are put at around £20,000.

A report will be taken to a decision session on Monday 16 September to ask for the Cabinet Member of Transport, Planning and Sustainability to approve and progress the application for a Dunnington Neighbourhood Plan.

Dunnington & York Local Plan click to enlarge

Residents still have a week until the consultation period ends on the 16 September at 4pm, and a verbal update will be provided to the Cabinet Member during the meeting.

Over 450 York residents have already had their say on what could be the city’s the first parish council to get its own Neighbourhood Plan.

However the current consultation is only about what area the plan should cover, so there is a suspicion that residents are using this as an opportunity to make a further protest about the York Council’s Local Plan policies for the village.
(more…)

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