Last year we were sceptical about whether the Council would sell semi’s on its Lowfield development for £295,000.
However, even in Selby – North Yorkshires traditional cheap housing location – prices are now rising by 23% a year.
The average house price nationally has reached £333,000.
So it looks like the Lowfields pricing strategy may not be far off the mark.
We expect the Council to publish an update on how many of the Lowfields homes have now found a purchaser?
Of course, for many, such prices are far beyond what is affordable.
While demand continues to exceed supply, so prices will rise.
Hopefully other, less controversial, developments will now get going. Progress on the Sugar Beet site and at the Barbican would be particularly welcome.
In the meantime, complaints continue to be raised about the impact of the Lowfields development on neighbours.
One, at least, is complaining that the dust raised on the site is affecting their health.
That is something that the Council and their contractors need to address.
Residents have complained bitterly on the “Save Lowfields Playing Field” Facebook page as contractors Wates step up their activities. The main complaints concern noise and dust although the parking of plant on public highways has also been an issue.
Promised repairs to verges have not been completed.
Council has written to local residents
It appears that more disruption is in prospect as a two week closure of the Tudor Road entrance to the site is due to start on Saturday 13th June. Apparently a full closure of Tudor Road will be in place for two weeks during which time a sewer will be diverted from the school site.
Tudor Road will be closed for at least two weeks in June
From Monday 29th June for one week there will be a partial road closure with one lane closed and the road controlled by traffic lights. The closure will affect access particularly to 100-108 Tudor Road. The bus service will be diverted although First York haven’t yet confirmed their diverted route.
During this period heavy plant and deliveries will revert to using the Dijon Avenue access to the site.
The Council has let down the people of Lowfield very badly on this project. They should not be building on playing fields. Any development of the former built footprint of the school, should have been scheduled for completion over a maximum of 24 months.
Now timescales are stretching out with no progress being made on the health centre, “police station”, elderly persons accommodation, self-build, communal living plots or even in providing the promised additional off street parking spaces for Dijon Avenue residents. .
Dijon Avenue site access will be used during Tudor Road sewer works
Progress is being made on providing football pitches and a luxurious clubhouse near Sim Balk Lane – mainly funded by contributions from the Lowfields development.
There seems to be no prospect of the open space and playgrounds being provided at Lowfields unless and until the whole of the development is completed.
Verge damage has not been repaired
That could be 5 years or more away.
The health crisis will affect the housing market in ways that can only be guessed at. It seems possible that the Council may end up being unable to sell the bulk of the 140 homes that it is currently building. Their decision to set up an “in house” sales team already looks suspect (and expensive)
Altogether an ill judged, poorly managed project which reflects no credit on the City of York Council
The Lowfield Action Group Facebook page makes it clear that residents have major concerns about the current development works in the area.
There are continuing complaints about noise, dust and working hours extending beyond those approved in the planning permission.
Communications from the Council have been minimal although another exhibition is promised prior to the main contractor starting on site. The current contractor is only undertaking clearance and layout works.
One piece of good news is that work on providing an additional 3 parking spaces on Tudor Road is due to start next week.
The Council latest planning application, which should have been determined by the end of April, it is still outstanding.
There is still no sign of a planning application for the Care Home much less the health centre and “police station”, not that they were ever likely to materialise anyway.
“Yorspace” are apparently still trying to raise funds for their “communal living” scheme while the Councils decision to sell them land at a discounted rate may yet prove to have been illegal.
Hopefully the new Council will be able to find someone competent and sensitive to local residents views when they decide who will lead on housing and planning matters for the next 4 years.
Certainly communication and supervisory systems need major improvements.
