5000 homes lopped from Local Plan following unprecedented number of objections as residents force short term reprieve for Moor Lane development.
Stables housing site on Tadcaster Road
Labour have revealed a “new” Local Plan which commits them to building around 1000 home s per year on average during the next 15 years. A higher rate is planned of the next 6 years
This means that the size of the City will increase by over 20% during the period up to 2030.
Net internal population growth (births minus deaths) is around 1000 a year on average
With home occupancy at over 2 persons per dwelling, this generates a demand for around 500 additional homes each year.
The others will be occupied by inward migrants.
The Council statement says,
“In order to continue maximising the delivery of housing, new targets have been proposed in the plan to a minimum of 996 homes per annum over the Local Plan period. For the first six years sufficient land will be earmarked to build 1,170 homes per annum, delivering 16,980 over the life time of the plan, to accommodate a population growth of around 40,000 people over the next 15-years
The previous target was 1090 – 1250 new and affordable homes per year up to 2030. Amendments to the portfolio of sites reflect up to date evidence base work. Approach to density is National Planning Policy framework (NPPF) compliant”.
The latest draft of the Local Plan gives residents some hope that the proposed development of 17 hectares of land on Moor Lane (enough for 500 houses) will not happen in the foreseeable future. Labour is now proposing that this area should be “safeguarded” and not developed until after 2030.
In welcoming the change Lib Dem Councillor Ann Reid said “I am in no doubt that the number of residents who objected to this site through letters, emails and petitions helped bring this change about. However we cannot be complacence as developers will continue to fight to be allowed to develop this land. I shall continue to support resident in a bid to completely remove the land from the plan.”
Meanwhile the other sites in Dringhouses and Woodthorpe are still included.
The proposals are for 116 houses at the Stables/Cherry Lane and 50 at the old Park and Ride site.
The land behind The Square has been reduced in size following representations from The Hospice with 49 houses proposed instead of the original 65.
Despite the overall drop in numbers and Labour claiming a “brownfield first” policy, 80% of the proposed development will take place on green field sites.
NB. A reference to a gypsy Caravan site being constructed on Moor Lane actually refers to Wetherby Road between the A1237 and Rufforth. Two sites are proposed. Neither were included in last year’s consultation process
Committee agenda and papers click here http://tinyurl.com/LPYork22