The Press are today reporting on a decision by some York Council officials not to publish a key Local Plan report.

The information was contained in a study undertaken by consultants ARUP.

It was designed to undermine the forecasts of population growth in the City provided by other organisations such as the Office of National Statistics. Those reports confirmed that the City needs to build around 600 additional homes each year to satisfy demand and to accommodate those who work in York’s successful economy.

The Arup report was referenced extensively by the Labour Leadership as they tried to justify their high growth strategy which would lead to the City increasing in size by 25% over the next 15 years.

In turn this meant space for 22,000 additional homes would be required. Most would be occupied by migrants.

Officials have now apparently claimed that the ARUP report, which informed the decision meeting on 22nd April, was a “draft”. It is apparently now being rewritten.

A list of all relevant background documents has been published click here

A sanitised version of the ARUP report will apparently be published on the Council’s web site on 5th June.

As the rules governing Council meetings confirm, the Council has no option but to release the contents of any report which influenced a Cabinet decision.

Earlier papers can be found on the Council’s web site here and here

It is the Council preventing access to the updated figures that is causing controversy