In a letter to local Labour Councillor James Alexander the Liberal Democrat leader criticises “incremental” housing development – adding homes to existing communities – and advocates larger schemes on “Garden City” principles that are accompanied by new schools and other key infrastructure.
Labour’s Local Plan proposals 2013 click to enlarge
He writes: “I recognise that the incremental add-on style of development, or ‘urban sprawl’, tends to cause high levels of local resentment.
“Building around the edges of existing developments often destroys local green spaces, does nothing to improve local infrastructure and tends to create a drain on resources such as schools and hospitals.”
The Lib Dem leader said he was looking at a “range of options” to encourage communities to accept new garden cities.
The Local Plan published by Labour 18 months go relied heavily on incremental development. The fringe building proposals including using sensitive sites like Moor Lane
The Labour Plan was sent back to the drawing board in October
The only development which might have been considered to be a new “garden village” was a 6000 home community be called “Whinthorpe” which was to have been located south of the A64 southern by pass near the University.
It is, however, in the Green Belt and would require a huge investment in transport infrastructure to bring to fruition.
The expectation is that any new garden village would be located further away from existing urban areas with the ability to provide enhanced transport links a key criteria.
Liberal Democrats have previously identified how an additional 12,000 homes can be provided on brownfield land in the City over the next 25 years.
This would be adequate to meet the requirements of any realistic economic growth projection.
The LibDem plan would – unlike Labours – include a “windfall” allowance intended to recognised that many homes will be built on sites which are currently used for other purposes.
NB. Most new homes built in the City during the last 5 years have been built on brownfield land.
Over the last 18 months a record number of planning applications for new houses (over 1600) have been approved by the York Council. 90% of these have been for brownfield “windfall” sites not identified for redevelopment in Labours Local Plan.