Planning permission, to demolish the Carlton Tavern and use the site for an elderly persons home, was refused last night.
In effect the Planning Committee reversed a decision taken a couple of months ago when the Chair had to use his casting vote to determine the issue.
This prompted threats of a Judicial review of the process.
The applicants now have a right of appeal against the latest decision, so it is likely to be several months before the fate of the building is finally clear.
Officials are recommending that permission be given for the Carlton Tavern pub to be demolished and replaced with a care home.
A planning committee meeting taking place on 13th December will vote again on the issue following threats of a legal challenge to a decision to approve the proposal taken at its October meeting.
At that time the committee chair had to use his casting vote to determine the application.
The officer report now clarifies their interpretation of national and European guidance.
Over 150 objections to the plan have been recorded.
It looks like last weekends update of the Council “planning portal” has gone badly wrong. The site should list all planning applications received (validated) by the Council during the preceding week.
Since the weekend (when the site was down for “maintenance”) the applications for the weeks commencing 13th and 20th November have disappeared. Some have reappeared on the current weeks list (27th Nov).
Taking the Westfield Ward as an example the site suggests that no applications have been “validated” since 7th November.
The issue is important because residents wishing to object (or support) particular planning applications have only a limited time to record their views. That time is being eroded.
At last nights the City of York’s Executive call-in meeting regarding the sale of Willow Lodge, the Liberal Democrats called for a review of green and recreational space provision across York.
It was announced during the call-in, that the highest bidder for the sale of Willow Lodge had reduced their offer for the purchase of the land. The decision will need to come back to the Executive for a future report, after assessment of the commercial bids. This report would itself be subject to the same possibilities of a call-in.
In a separate vote, Liberal Democrats Councillors called on Council Officers to undertake a review of green and recreational space, when considering future decision on developing Council land.
Cllr Andrew Waller added:
“There is a growing interest in public open space, whether it is playing fields or small recreational sites, which provide a break in the urban development of York. All residents in York should feel that they are being considered when decisions are taken on developing Council land.
It looks like there will be a re-run of the debate and vote on the future of the Carlton Tavern. The Planning Committee (on the casting vote of the Chairman) agreed last month that the pub be demolished to make way for an elderly care home.
Various sources on social media are now claiming that the Council will look again at the proposal following threats of a Judicial Review by a national amenity society.
Council officials have, apparently, agreed to further clarify the planning advice that they gave the committee.
Quite whether this will make any difference remains to be seen. It is at least a possibility that different Councillors may attend the meeting making it possible that a different conclusion will be reached.
We will see.
It seems that the Council is caught between a rock and a hard place.
The deadline for objections to the Councils “Lowfields Green” planning application has now passed.
The Action Group opposing the proposal to build on the playing field part of the site have submitted a comprehensive objection. A copy of their objection can be found via their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LowfieldsActionGroup/
Most of the representations of support for the scheme seem to be generated by the communal living project (Yorspace) although there is general support for the plans for specialist accommodation for the elderly.
None of the representations in favour of the Councils proposals come for people living near Lowfields (or indeed from the Westfield/Acomb area more generally)
The only unconditional message of support for the Council plan has been lodged by Bob Towner – a former Director of Housing at (you guessed!) the City of York Council! He says local people should use Hob Moor for recreational activities.
Further examination of the artists impressions of the proposals reveal a regimented design, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the 1960’s.
Lowfields Green – a candidate for the least imaginative architecture award?
It looks like residents are set to win their battle to prevent the development of a key site near Lindsey Avenue.
Yorkshire Housing want to build 43 affordable homes next to the landmark water tower.
Severus Hills comprises a 1.66 hectare partially wooded site occupying a prominent hill top location to the north west of the City Centre. It was formerly occupied by a, partially below ground, reservoir.
The site is a notified SINC (Site of Interest for Nature Conservation) on the basis of providing a calcareous grassland habitat.
Now planning officials are recommending that the application be refused. 159 letters of objections had been received by the Council.
Officials conclude that the development would “by virtue of its overbearing nature would give rise to substantial harm to the residential amenity of adjacent properties within Howe Hill Close”
The planning meeting is taking place on Thursday
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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99 Front Street York YO24 3BU
Proposal Crown reduce Sycamore tree up to 2.5m in a Conservation Area
Reference 17/02666/TCA
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26 Askham Lane York YO24 3HA
Proposal Single storey rear extension
Reference 17/02601/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/
The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received
Carlton Tavern
Planning officials are recommending that the Carlton Tavern pub on Acomb Road is demolished.
Papers published today in advance of the Planning committee taking place on 18th October reveal that officials believe that there is no planning reason why the proposal, to replace the building with a new care home, should not be approved.
The content of the papers will come as a blow to dozens of objectors to the plan. The objectors will, however, have an opportunity to register to speak at the meeting before Councillors determine the application.
Councillors are expected to visit the site on the day before the meeting takes place.
Carlton Tavern
In its place a three-four storey 79 bedroom care home would be built. Associated parking, cycle racks and landscaping would take up the whole of the site which currently includes extensive green space.
Details can be found by clicking this reference 17/00476/FULM
The planning decision committee meeting will take place on 14th September and 32 objections have already been recorded including two from national amenity societies (the Council for British Archaeology and the Victorian Society) as well as SAVE Britain’s Heritage and the York Civic Trust.
These statutory bodies and heritage experts highlight that the plans have not adequately considered conversion options. The Victorian building is of significant architectural merit and heritage significance within its local setting. Demolition would therefore harm the character of the area.
The CBA recommends that the developer be asked to consult a conservation architect to produce an alternative proposal incorporating the existing building (which is listed as an asset of community value and has a long history of care provision in Acomb village) and with a design more in keeping with the character of the setting.
Local campaigners are urging residents to record an objection to the demolition plan and to register to comment at the upcoming planning meeting
Car home plan
