The York Council has issued a media release saying that all Councillors are being invited to a (private) briefing session on options for progressing the Local Plan.

Apparently they will be able to question the consultants who produced the background data that was claimed to underpin Labour’s “Big City” strategy.

It was a tactic which resulted in a  plan which attracted massive public opposition and which was then ditched  at the October Council meeting.

It is unusual for the Council to issue a media release about an internal briefing session.  While any attempt to involve all groups represented on the Council in making important decisions would be a step forward, consultants evidence is often predicated on justifying a given political outcome.

Some fresh thinking, and options, will be expected by opposition councillors

In particular Councillors will be expecting to see robust challenges to both the economic growth assumptions, and resultant housing building plans, which caused so much unrest in the City.

The Council media release reads,
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In a letter to local Labour Councillor James Alexander the Liberal Democrat leader criticises “incremental” housing development – adding homes to existing communities – and advocates larger schemes on “Garden City” principles that are accompanied by new schools and other key infrastructure.

Labour’s Local Plan proposals 2013 click to enlarge

He writes: “I recognise that the incremental add-on style of development, or ‘urban sprawl’, tends to cause high levels of local resentment.

“Building around the edges of existing developments often destroys local green spaces, does nothing to improve local infrastructure and tends to create a drain on resources such as schools and hospitals.”

The Lib Dem leader said he was looking at a “range of options” to encourage communities to accept new garden cities.

The Local Plan published by Labour 18 months go relied heavily on incremental development. The fringe building proposals including using sensitive sites like Acomb Moor

The Labour Plan was sent back to the drawing board in October

 The only development which might have been considered to be a new “garden village” was a 6000 home community be called “Whinthorpe” which was to have been located south of the A64 southern by pass near the University.

It is, however, in the Green Belt and would require a huge investment in transport infrastructure to bring to fruition.

The expectation is that any new garden village would be located further away from existing urban areas with the ability to provide enhanced transport links a key criteria.

Liberal Democrats have previously identified how an additional 12,000 homes can be provided on brownfield land in the City over the next 25 years.

This would be adequate to meet the requirements of any realistic economic growth projection. 

The LibDem plan would – unlike Labours – include a “windfall” allowance intended to recognise that many homes will be built on sites which are currently used for other purposes.

Hudson House in Toft Green

NB. Most new homes built in the City during the last 5 years have been built on brownfield land.

Over the last 18 months a record number of planning applications for new houses (over 1600) have been approved by the York Council. 90% of these have been for brownfield “windfall” sites not identified for redevelopment in Labour’s Local Plan.

Just today plans to convert part of Hudson House into 115 flats have been announced. Last week developers said that they would provide 26 apartments in a disused chapel located near the hospital

At the Council meeting on 9th October Liberal Democrats will be urging the York Council to rethink it’s plan to increase the size of the city by over 20% during the next 15 years.

Labour plan to build an additional 20,000 houses on the York Green Belt over the next 15 years as they boost the population by 40,000.

Only 15,000 of these are likely to be York born as the population is increasing (births exceeding deaths) by 1000 each year.

This generates a demand for an additional 500 homes each year.

Of course, even this level of population growth can’t be sustained for ever. We live on a planet with finite resources.

Labour’s plans would have potentially disastrous consequences for the City that we live in.

Under Labour’s plan, already overloaded transport systems would seize up, health care services would be put under more pressure and the suburbs could be further starved of resources.

The Liberal Democrat proposal (which can be read by clicking here) will be debated by the present Council where 23 Labour members are balanced by 23 from other parties.

The proposal would see a special meeting called in November to consider changes to the Labour plan.

 By then, if Andrew Waller wins the Westfield by election which is taking place on 16th October, Labour will have lost their majority on the Council and with it their ability to dictate to residents.

5000 homes lopped from Local Plan following unprecedented number of objections

Labour have revealed a “new” Local Plan which commits them to building around 1000 home s per year on average during the next 15 years.

A higher rate is planned of the next 6 years

This means that the size of the City will increase by over 20% during the period up to 2030.

Net internal population growth (births minus deaths) is around 1000 a year on average

With home occupancy at over 2 persons per dwelling, this generates a demand for around 500 additional homes each year.

The others will be occupied by inward migrants.

The Council statement says,

“In order to continue maximising the delivery of housing, new targets have been proposed in the plan to a minimum of 996 homes per annum over the Local Plan period. For the first six years sufficient land will be earmarked to build 1,170 homes per annum, delivering 16,980 over the life time of the plan, to accommodate a population growth of around 40,000 people over the next 15-years

The previous target was 1090 – 1250 new and affordable homes per year up to 2030. Amendments to the portfolio of sites reflect up to date evidence base work. Approach to density is National Planning Policy framework (NPPF) compliant”.

http://tinyurl.com/LPYork22