A planning application for the next phase of the Hungate development has been submitted to the Council.
The Foss side application – a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroomed flats – is unexceptional save in one respect.
No offer is made of affordable units either on site or off site.
Instead a viability study is being prepared which will indicate “at a later date” what – if any – “affordable units” can be provided.
A precedent for a zero affordable contribution was established by a planning inspector who determined a York planning appeal recently.
The design of the flats proposed suggests that they would not address social housing needs anyway (although most of the waiting list is now made up of residents seeking 1 bedroomed accommodation).
If this means that payment to the Council, in lieu of homes, is planned then that could be a step forward.
As we have pointed out previously, there are many properties for sale in the City for around £100,000.
If the Council was a “cash in hand” purchaser they could buy up some of these and make an immediate impact on the housing waiting list.
The last batch of Hungate properties were relatively expensive (starting at over £200,000 for a small flat).
So the willingness of the developer to proceed with the next stage does provide further evidence that the country’s economic recovery is gaining momentum in York.
