Plans for a new settlement south of York have received a major blow after housebuilders and planning experts said the scheme was “wholly inappropriate” and the location was “unsustainable”.

 The ‘Whinthorpe’ development is planned for Green Belt land at Holme Hill, alongside the A64 to the south of Heslington. The original proposals had space for 5,500 houses – making the planned settlement bigger than Easingwold or Dunnington. However, housebuilders such as the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and Linden Homes along with expert planning consultants have criticised the proposals in consultation papers recently published by Labour run York Council.

The consultation responses include:

•  Consultants for the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust said “We consider that the site is wholly inappropriate for development in landscape and green belt terms. Indeed, in our view, it is impossible to identify a site or area in the countryside surrounding York where development would have a worse impact on the character or setting of the historic city”.
•  The same consultants raised concerns over the lack of local infrastructure and said that pressure on schools meant there was the danger that “small children will need to be decanted to distant schools”.
•  ID Planning said the site was in “an unsustainable location” and could become a commuter town for Leeds which “would not be assisting in the economic growth of the city (York)”. They said there was “no evidence this site has been tested or is viable” and that public transport options were “unknown”.
•  Henry Boot Developments said “the assumed build out rates are simply too high and are unsustainable/undeliverable”.

Councillor for Fulford and Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Keith Aspden commentedtoday:

“It is clear that even housebuilders do not believe Whinthorpe is a sensible location in which to build 5,500 houses. They have raised legitimate concerns over the suitability of the site and the impact development would have on local infrastructure like schools and roads. These concerns echo the thoughts of residents I have spoken to since the plans were announced last year.

“However, instead of listening to the views of residents and experts Labour seem determine to push on and even extend their plans. Under their amended proposals, which were announced a few weeks ago, Labour actually want to increase the size of the site and take even more Green Belt land. Despite doing this they have so far refused to publish revised housing numbers for the scheme.

“When the Liberal Democrat Group left office we had a plan in place which delivered housing but prioritised brownfield development and protected the Green Belt. Our response to last year’s consultation showed that there is a viable alternative to Labour’s plans. Over the coming weeks I will continue to work with local residents and community groups in Fulford and Heslington to fight to save South York’s Green Belt.”

NB  A full list of responses to the Local Plan consultation can be found here: http://www.york.gov.uk/info/200792/preferred_options_consultation_june-july_2013/1427/preferred_options_consultation_june-july_2013

Liberal Democrat councillors have called-in Labour’s decision to start public consultation without publishing housing figures for new and amended sites. The call-in meeting takes place tonight and details can be found here: http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=602&MId=8501