York Council hoarding 110,000 square metres of vacant and derelict land

New figures obtained under Freedom of Information legislation suggest that the York Council has been slow to exploit the full potential of the  “brownfield” derelict land that it owns.

Vacant land register April 2015

The list includes the former park and ride car park on Tadcaster Road which current houses a little used pay and display car park.

Residents had already highlighted the vacant plot to the rear of the Acomb Library which has originally been intend to house a replacement Acomb Council office together with some much needed affordable homes. The project was dropped by the new Labour Council in 2011 and the site has remained derelict ever since.

Now officials have suggested that the project may be revived although there has been absolutely no consultation on any proposals.

Most  of the vacant land is at the former Lowfields and Manor school sites. The Council has also courted unpopularity at Lowfields by refusing to keep local residents up to date on its development plans.

Also on the list is Oliver House which has been empty for over 2 years and for which offers of over £3 million have been received.

The Labour Council leadership decided to delay its sale until after the elections.

In total the Council owns 110,877 square metres of unused land.

Release of some of the land would go some way towards reducing housing pressures in the City while helping those who are campaigning to preserve the City’s Green Belt.

 

Latest planning application for the Acomb Ward

Boyes Acomb store should be open next week

Embedded image permalink

Below are the latest planning applications received by the York Council for the Acomb ward.

Full details can be found by clicking the application reference

Location:       95 Beckfield Lane York YO26 5PW

Proposal:       Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension

Ref No: 15/00684/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Alan Hartley Consultation Expiry Date:       11 May 2015 Case Officer:   Elizabeth Potter        Expected Decision Level:        DEL

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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/

Latest Planning applications for Acomb and Westfield Ward

Including new swimming school, British Sugar site and Boyes

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

Location:       Unit 3 Rose Centre Rose Avenue Nether Poppleton York

Proposal:       Use as a swimming school

Ref No: 15/00313/FUL

Applicant:      Miss Donna Kettlewell   Consultation Expiry Date:       20 April 2015 Case Officer:   Victoria Bell   Expected Decision Level:        DEL

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

Proposal:       Construction of development platform, engineering works and remediation and reclamation of site (duplicate application)

Ref No: 15/00523/FULM

Applicant:      British Sugar   Contact:        Mr Neil Jones   Consultation Expiry Date:       22 April 2015 Case Officer:   Jonathan Kenyon Expected Decision Level:

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

Proposal:       Outline application for the development of the site comprising up to 1,100 residential units, community uses (D1/D2) and new public open space with details of access (to include new access points at Millfield Lane and Boroughbridge Road and a new link road, crossing the Former Manor School Site) and demolition of the Former Manor School buildings (duplicate application)

Ref No: 15/00524/OUTM

Applicant:      British Sugar   Contact:        Mr Neil Jones   Consultation Expiry Date:       22 April 2015 Case Officer:   Jonathan Kenyon Expected Decision Level:        COMP

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Location:       166 Beckfield Lane York YO26 5QT

Proposal:       Two storey side and single storey rear extensions and dormer to rear

Ref No: 15/00551/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Tom Hughes   Contact:        Mr Andy Sykes   Consultation Expiry Date:       20 April 2015 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level:        DEL

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Westfield

Location:       11 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Proposal:       Display of non-illuminated projecting sign and hoarding sign

Ref No: 15/00511/ADV

Applicant:      W Boyes & Co Ltd        Contact R Peter Belt & Associates       Consultation Expiry Date        20 April 2015 Case Officer:   Victoria Bell   Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       7 Foxwood Lane York YO24 3LH

Proposal:       Crown lift to 6m Sycamore Tree protected by Tree Preservation Order No.:3

Ref No: 15/00611/TPO

Applicant:      Emma Wilks      Contact Mr Tom Kitchen  Consultation Expiry Date        20 April 2015 Case Officer:   Esther Priestley        Expected Decision Level

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Location:       34 Slessor Road York YO24 3JL

Proposal:       Reduce, thin and lift Oak tree protected by Tree Preservation Order No.: CYC132

Ref No: 15/00620/TPO

Applicant:      Owner/ Occupier Contact Mr Tom Kitchen  Consultation Expiry Date        20 April 2015 Case Officer:   Esther Priestley        Expected Decision Level

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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.

Community Stadium planning application – Decision deferral likely

The agenda for the planning committee meeting which may determine the fate of York’s community stadium has been published.

Community Stadium Nov 2014

No reference is made in the papers to the erroneous public notice published in The Press.

The committee are being recommended to approve the application at its meeting on 27th March but – because of a mistake over the deadline for objections – a Council official is to be given delegated authority to formally approve the scheme on 31st March.

It is without precedent for an official to be given this level of delegated power on such a significant scheme. 

Normally, any delegated authority is required to be exercised in consultation with the spokesmen of the various groups represented on the Council.

The decision will then be referred to the Secretary of Sate to decide whether the application should be “called in”. Given the upcoming General Election, an early decision on this seems unlikely.

The scheme will remain deferred until the Highways Agency formally  lifts its holding objection.

As we have said before, it seems unlikely that the plans will be determined before June. It would be very much later if the Secretary of State orders a Public Inquiry (although this seems unlikely).

Only 29 objections have been received to the proposals so far.  Most relate to the impasse on the use of the Stadium by the Knights Rugby team. The Planning Committee has few powers in this regard although it must ensure that any displaced sports (in this case athletics and Rugby League) have an accessible alternative facility available to them.

Not surprisingly Vue Cinemas – who have premises at Clifton Moor – object suggesting that the proposed new cinema may represent an over-provision in the area.

The officer report says,

“The analysis of patterns of usage show that the Vue cinema at Clifton Moor has the most dominance with 55% market share for York zones 1-3 and 34% market share for the whole of the study area. It would seem likely then that, given the directly comparable format of the new proposal at Monks Cross, the greatest impact would be felt at the Vue facility. Vue has no policy protection given its out of centre location”.

The officer report is very weak in assessing the impact that an additional 5,324 sqm of retail space could have on the City centre in the long term. 

The possibility that some of the units to be located under the stadium stands could also become retail outlets in the medium term also appear to have been overlooked.

The retail part of the development is clearly in conflict with the draft Local Plans published in 2011 and 2012.

It is these issues that the Secretary of State will need to consider.

The Community Stadium project is running 2 years behind the schedule agreed in 2010.

Significant planning decision for York Green Belt

Brecks Lane, Strensall  planning application turned down by Secretary of State

click to download full decision

click to download full decision

A proposal to build 102 houses on land next to Brecks Lane in Strensall has been turned down by the Secretary of State,

He “called in” the application after 9 Labour Councillors outvoted 7 Opposition Councillors to approve it at a local Planning committee meeting held on 24th February 2014. At that time the Council still had an overall Labour majority under the leadership of Cllr Alexander.

The Minister said that the refusal was because the site was located in the Green Belt.

This has a major significance for other peripheral sites around the City which were to be taken out of the Green Belt under Labours “Big City” expansion plans.

Now the draft Local Plan – rejected by the Council in October – has received a further blow.

It is good news for threatened sites in Woodthorpe, Foxwood Lane and between Acomb and the A1237, as all are in the currently defined Green Belt

The full decision can be downloaded by clicking here

No decision will be taken on the Local Plan now until after the Council elections on May 7th.

There are around 5000 outstanding planning permissions for new homes in York. The majority are on “brownfield” – previously developed -land.

Cllr Ann Reid the new Liberal Democrat chair of the Planning Committee commented;

Members of the City of York Council planning committee visit the land at Strensall where Linden Homes want to build 102 homes

Site inspection in 2014

“I am delighted that the Secretary of State has refused planning permission for this site. Crucially, the ruling completely undermines a number of claims made by the Labour Cabinet and further discredits their Draft Local Plan.

 “The ruling recognises that the land is in the Green Belt and development should therefore be blocked in order to protect York’s character and stop unrestricted urban sprawl. It shows that even without a Local Plan in place it will not be open-season for developers in York’s countryside.

 “Crucially, the ruling supports the view that preventing development on this site, and on other Green Belt sites, will encourage development of brownfield land. This is why the Liberal Democrat Group has consistently advocated a brownfield first building policy.

 “The ruling says that only in very special circumstances should Green Belt land be developed. Labour have not demonstrated that those circumstances exist for this or other sites across York.

 “With so many undeveloped brownfield sites it is imperative that these are developed before a further attempt is made to bulldoze the Green Belt. Labour’s housing policy is once again in tatters and a radical rethink is needed.”

Only one plot remaining at Hob Moor “Hobstone” development

Only one of the new houses being built on the Windsor Garth development is still for sale according to developers.

Hobstone brochure

The remaining property is a 2 bedroomed house which is listed at £170,000.

14 of the 55 units being built on the site are for sale (the rest will be rented by Yorkshire Housing)

The development has been criticised, not least for it’s high density levels. Originally the site was to have had only 29 units constructed. They would have been restricted to the “footprint” of the old school building.

Completion of the development later this year can’t come soon enough for existing residents living  in the area.

They blame construction traffic for damage to local roads, footpaths, verges and the Moor itself.

Latest Planning applications for Acomb and Westfield Ward

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

Location:       17 Shirley Avenue York YO26 5NJ

Proposal:       Certificate of Lawful Development for use as house of multiple occupation (use class C4)

Ref No: 15/00342/CLU

Applicant:      Mrs Gail Ward-Vallance  Contact:        Mr Raymond Barnes       Consultation Expiry Date:       6 April 2015 Case Officer:   Elizabeth Potter        Expected Decision Level:        DEL

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Westfield

Location:       2 St Stephens Mews York YO26 5LP

Proposal:       First floor rear and single storey rear extensions

Ref No: 15/00293/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Mark Gibbons Consultation Expiry Date        6 April 2015 Case Officer:   David Johnson   Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       67 Kingsway West York YO24 4RD

Proposal:       Two storey side extension

Ref No: 15/00452/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Tony Hadfield        Consultation Expiry Date        6 April 2015 Case Officer:   Paul Edwards    Expected Decision Level DEL

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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.

Community Stadium not on agenda for next planning committee meeting

Confirmation that the Community Stadium project is slipping further behind schedule has come with the publication of the agenda for the Planning Committee scheduled to take place on 19th March.

Community Stadium Nov 2014

Community Stadium planned for Huntington

This was to have been the meeting at which that the proposals would have been considered.

The timescale for a July 2016 opening for the stadium always looked very tight given the controversial nature of the “enabling” retail development. The project subsequently was thrown into disarray when first the Highways Agency suspended the scheme and then a “war of words” broke out between Council officials and the Knights rugby club, who were to have been one of the major users of the Stadium.

 A date has been reserved in the Councils calendar for a meeting on 27th March but It now seems unlikely that the planning application will be determined before the new Council’s Planning Committee has its first meeting in June.

It looks increasingly likely that the new Councillors, who will be elected on 7th May, will have a can of worms to sort out.

The March Planning Committee will, however, consider some important issues

George Hudson Street student flats

The committee will consider a change of use from offices to student accommodation comprising of 58 self contained units with associated facilities including shop, cycle store, managers office, communal lounge, gym and laundry. A new shop front to the proposed entrance on the George Hudson Street elevation will be provided. The building is Listed.

Del Monte Site, Skelton

The committee will have a second go at approving a new 60 home development at this former factory site.

Naburn Lock caravan park

The committee are being asked to agree that this 100 pitch caravan park be allowed to open throughout the whole year

New teaching block at the University of York

Proposal to build a 13 metre high, 4240 sq metres floor area, teaching block on a site on Spring Lane previously occupied by staff housing

Housing development on Grain Store site, Water Lane

An application for approval of appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of 215 new dwellings, following the grant of outline permission in 2012

Latest Planning applications for Acomb and Westfield Ward

Another empty space above a Front Street shop set to become a flat

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

Acomb

Location:       Macmillan House 60 York Road Acomb York YO24 4NW

Proposal:       Certificate of Lawful Development for existing use as 17no. self-contained flats within the C3(a) use class

Ref No: 15/00281/CLU

Applicant:      Mr Lindsay Judson  Contact:        Harland And Co Solicitors     Consultation Expiry Date:       30 March 2015 Case Officer:   Heather Fairy   Expected Decision Level:        DEL

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Westfield

Location:       Co-Op Travel 47 York Road Acomb York YO24 4LN

Proposal:       Change of use of first floor from office (use Class A1) to flat (use Class C3)

Ref No: 15/00238/FUL

Applicant:      DPSK Ltd      Contact Mr Ben Cook     Consultation Expiry Date        30 March 2015 Case Officer:   Victoria Bell   Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       36 Queenswood Grove York YO24 4PP

Proposal:       Two storey side and single storey rear extensions

Ref No: 15/00395/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Andrew Davis Contact Mr Malcolm Scott        Consultation Expiry Date        30 March 2015 Case Officer:   Carolyn Howarth Expected Decision Level DEL

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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.

7 flats proposed for empty storage space above Front Street shops

Latest Planning applications Westfield Ward

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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Acomb

None

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Westfield

1 - 9 Front Street

1 – 9 Front Street

Location:       1 – 9 Front Street York

Proposal:       Conversion of vacant first floor retail space to 7 apartments with external alterations including replacement windows, cladding and rear entrance

click to access

click to access

Site location map click to access

Site location map click to access

Ref No: 15/00178/FUL

Applicant:      Mr John Skelton  Contact Mr Dean Starkey  Consultation Expiry Date        16 March 2015 Case Officer:   Victoria Bell   Expected Decision Level DEL

This is the block next to the new Boyes store which is currently being renovated.  The plan to provide more homes linked to the reuse of empty space will be welcomed by many, and would make a contribution to our Acomb regeneration project.

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Location:       All Wrapped Up 9 Front Street York YO24 3BW

Proposal:       Change of use from shop (use class A1) to restaurant/ cafe(use class A3)

Ref No: 15/00067/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Simon Ryde   Contact Mr Dean Starkey Consultation Expiry Date        16 March 2015  Case Officer:   Victoria Bell   Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       17 The Gallops York YO24 3NF

Proposal:       Erection of boundary fence

Ref No: 15/00180/FUL

Applicant:      Mr Ian Wright   Consultation Expiry Date        16 March 2015 Case Officer:   Sandra Duffill  Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       2 Otterwood Bank York YO24 3JS

Proposal:       Single storey side extension and conversion of garage to habitable room

Ref No: 15/00189/FUL

Applicant:      Mrs C Leach     Contact Mr Paul Butler  Consultation Expiry Date        16 March 2015 Case Officer:   Sandra Duffill  Expected Decision Level DEL

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Location:       3 Osprey Close York YO24 2YE

Proposal:       Crown reduce by 2m to Shape Oak Tree protected by Tree Preservation Order No.: 26

Ref No: 15/00332/TPO

Applicant:      Mr Tony Fairburn        Contact Mr David Gregory        Consultation Expiry Date        16 March 2015 Case Officer:   Esther Priestley        Expected Decision Level

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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/

  1. The Council now no longer routinely consults neighbours by letter when an application is received.