Victory! Askham Bog appeal dismissed

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the decision made by the Government’s Planning Inspector to reject the appeal against the council’s refusal to grant planning permission to build 516 homes on land next to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The application had been refused by City of York Council’s Planning Committee in 2019 on the basis that the proposed development, on land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe, was inappropriate due to the impact on Askham Bog and local infrastructure. The developer then appealed against that decision, which led to a public inquiry being held.

Cllr Stephen Fenton said: “I am delighted that Askham Bog has been saved – this is a real victory for our community. Local Liberal Democrat councillors have fought this development for years and I hope that we can finally put this issue to rest. The threat of development on this site has been hanging over the community ever since the then Labour-run council identified the land for housing in their draft Local Plan.

Councillors Stephen Fenton, Ashley Mason and Paula Widdowson at Askham Bog in 2019

“Today’s news will come as a huge relief for local residents who had considerable concerns about the impact that this number of homes would have had on local infrastructure such as roads and healthcare services which are already struggling.

Councillor Stephen Fenton at Askham Bog in 2018 with Louise Wilkinson and Alastair Fitter from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

“It has been an incredible community effort, with residents rallying to the cause and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust collecting over 7,000 petition signatures. I would like to thank everyone who has been part of this campaign.”

Update on Moor Lane housing appeal

Further details have been made available about the appeal against the council’s refusal of planning permission for 516 homes to be built on land off Moor Lane next to Askham Bog.

The Appellant has submitted further information for consideration by the Planning Inspector in the form of an Addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment, which can be viewed on the council’s website HERE

Planning officers at the council have confirmed that all of the comments and objections submitted by residents earlier this year will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate so that they can be considered by the Inspector when determining the appeal. So there is no need for residents to resubmit the same comments previously submitted.

Any residents who want to modify or add to their earlier comments can do so online HERE before 2nd October. All representations must quote reference APP/C2741/W/19/3233973.

The Inquiry will begin on 12 November (venue to be confirmed) and is scheduled to sit for 12 days.

Moor Lane applicant appeals against planning refusal

City of York Council has received notification from the Planning Inspectorate that the applicant for the Moor Lane planning application (18/02687/OUTM) has appealed the Council’s decision to refuse the outline permission for up to 516 residential units.

The Planning Inspectorate has notified the Council that the Inquiry will start on 12th November 2019 and it is anticipated that the Inquiry will sit for 12 days.

The Council will send notification of the appeal to any person who was notified or consulted about the application and any other interested persons who made representations.

If however the representation was part of a petition, each individual on the petition will not be notified by the Council.

Cllr Stephen Fenton at Askham Bog with YWT’s Louise Wilkinson and Alastair Fitter

Cllr Stephen Fenton commented “This is disappointing news, but not surprising. The application was refused by the Planning Committee unanimously on the basis of a very thorough report which set out clearly why the proposed development is completely inappropriate due to the impact on Askham Bog and local infrastructure.”

“The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust mounted a fantastic campaign to save Askham Bog which attracted over 7,000 signatures. The campaign will go on until the threat to this site is defeated once and for all.”

Moor Lane housing application – planning officers recommend refusal

City of York Council planning officers are recommending that the application to build 516 homes on Green Belt land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe is refused.

The recommendation will be considered at a meeting of the council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 11 July at 4.30pm at West Offices. Members of the committee will decide whether or not to accept the officer recommendation for refusal. Members of the public can attend the meeting in person and it will also be webcast.

The planning officer’s report recommending refusal is published on the council’s website HERE

The report concludes that the proposal by reason of its location within the Green Belt would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt as set out in Section 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

It notes that the proposal would result in a detrimental impact on the rural landscape, harm to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest, impacts on education provision in the city and potential for significant impacts on  the transport network and highway safety.

It states that the benefits put forward by the applicant  do not either individually or cumulatively clearly outweigh the totality of this harm and therefore do not amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify the  proposal for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework.

On Tuesday 9 July at 10.15am Planning Committee members will visit the new Askham Bar Park & Ride site (west / railway side) from where they will view the application site and Askham Bog. Residents are welcome to attend the visit if they wish.

Councillors submit objection to Moor Lane housing proposals

Councillors Ann Reid, Ashley Mason and Stephen Fenton have submitted a formal objection to the plans by developers to build 516 homes on land off Moor Lane. You can read our submission HERE

Stephen, Ann and Ashley at the proposed development site

As the local ward councillors we continue to support the very many people who have objected to this unnecessary development, which would have a devastating effect on Askham Bog and a major impact on the lives of the residents.

Big turnout for residents’ meeting on Moor Lane plans

55 local residents attended the meeting convened by Ward councillors and the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Planning Panel at West Thorpe Methodist Church on 22 January to air their views about the planning application to build 516 homes on land off Moor Lane.

The crowd begins to gather

The overwhelming mood of the meeting was that the application was unwelcome and should be strongly opposed. In addition to concerns about the impact on Askham Bog, other issues raised by residents included:

  • Impact on the Green Belt
  • Impact on wildlife, such as deer
  • Impact of putting even more traffic onto Moor Lane, which is regularly gridlocked at busy times
  • Impact on air quality of more stationary traffic
  • Impact on local health services and schools

The red line marks the boundary of the proposed development site

Lib Dem councillors Ann Reid, Ashley Mason and Stephen Fenton reiterated their opposition to the plans.

What’s on – Drop-in session organised on Moor Lane development plans

As many local residents are aware, developers have submitted a planning application to build 516 homes on land off Moor Lane, adjacent to Askham Bog.

The Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward councillors and the local Planning Panel have organised a drop-in session on Tuesday 22 January for residents to have a look at the plans, ask questions and let us know your views. The session is from 7.45pm to 8.45pm at West Thorpe Methodist Church.

The plans are available online and if you’d like to submit comments, please do so by 2nd February. You can comment via the council website HERE

Save Askham Bog! Open Day on Saturday 15 September

On Saturday 15th September from 10am to 3pm there is an Open Day at Askham Bog, hosted by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

There’ll be activities for all the family including guided nature walks and pond dipping.

It’s part of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s drive to raise awareness of the importance of this nature reserve, and gather support for the campaign to oppose proposals that would see 500 homes built on land off Moor Lane next to the Bog.

Cllr Stephen Fenton met with representatives from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at the Bog on Friday 14 September and pledged his support for the campaign.

You can find out more about the campaign Here