On Thursday 11 July the City of York Council’s Planning Committee voted unanimously to refuse the application to build 516 homes on Moor Lane next to Askham Bog.
Planning Committee refuses Moor Lane housing application
Moor Lane housing application – planning officers recommend refusal
City of York Council planning officers are recommending that the application to build 516 homes on Green Belt land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe is refused.
The recommendation will be considered at a meeting of the council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 11 July at 4.30pm at West Offices. Members of the committee will decide whether or not to accept the officer recommendation for refusal. Members of the public can attend the meeting in person and it will also be webcast.
The planning officer’s report recommending refusal is published on the council’s website HERE
The report concludes that the proposal by reason of its location within the Green Belt would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt as set out in Section 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
It notes that the proposal would result in a detrimental impact on the rural landscape, harm to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest, impacts on education provision in the city and potential for significant impacts on the transport network and highway safety.
It states that the benefits put forward by the applicant do not either individually or cumulatively clearly outweigh the totality of this harm and therefore do not amount to very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework.
On Tuesday 9 July at 10.15am Planning Committee members will visit the new Askham Bar Park & Ride site (west / railway side) from where they will view the application site and Askham Bog. Residents are welcome to attend the visit if they wish.
Councillors submit objection to Moor Lane housing proposals
Councillors Ann Reid, Ashley Mason and Stephen Fenton have submitted a formal objection to the plans by developers to build 516 homes on land off Moor Lane. You can read our submission HERE
Stephen, Ann and Ashley at the proposed development site
As the local ward councillors we continue to support the very many people who have objected to this unnecessary development, which would have a devastating effect on Askham Bog and a major impact on the lives of the residents.
Big turnout for residents’ meeting on Moor Lane plans
55 local residents attended the meeting convened by Ward councillors and the Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Planning Panel at West Thorpe Methodist Church on 22 January to air their views about the planning application to build 516 homes on land off Moor Lane.
The crowd begins to gather
The overwhelming mood of the meeting was that the application was unwelcome and should be strongly opposed. In addition to concerns about the impact on Askham Bog, other issues raised by residents included:
- Impact on the Green Belt
- Impact on wildlife, such as deer
- Impact of putting even more traffic onto Moor Lane, which is regularly gridlocked at busy times
- Impact on air quality of more stationary traffic
- Impact on local health services and schools
The red line marks the boundary of the proposed development site
Lib Dem councillors Ann Reid, Ashley Mason and Stephen Fenton reiterated their opposition to the plans.
What’s on – Drop-in session organised on Moor Lane development plans
As many local residents are aware, developers have submitted a planning application to build 516 homes on land off Moor Lane, adjacent to Askham Bog.
The Dringhouses & Woodthorpe ward councillors and the local Planning Panel have organised a drop-in session on Tuesday 22 January for residents to have a look at the plans, ask questions and let us know your views. The session is from 7.45pm to 8.45pm at West Thorpe Methodist Church.
The plans are available online and if you’d like to submit comments, please do so by 2nd February. You can comment via the council website HERE
UPDATED – Developers submit plans to bulldoze Green Belt land off Moor Lane
As expected, developers have formally submitted an application to build 516 homes on Green Belt land adjacent to Askham Bog off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe.
The red line marks the boundary of the proposed development site
The plans are overwhelmingly opposed by local residents, and by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust which manages Askham Bog.
Local Lib Dem councillors have consistently opposed the plans, and we urge residents to lodge objections with the council. The planning application can be viewed on the council website HERE. To submit an objection, go to this website and click on ‘Comments’ and follow the instructions.
***UPDATE*** The council website had initially shown a deadline of 9th January for residents to submit comments and objections. This was incorrect, and we are now told that the closing date will be at the end of January or beginning of February.
Developers’ leaflet drop to promote Green Belt grab
Leaflets are being delivered across Woodthorpe by developers who are promoting their ambition to build 500 homes on Green Belt land off Moor Lane.
Barwood Land’s Moor Lane flyer states that “the site was included previously within the emerging City of York Local Plan for up to 500 homes.” It fails to mention however that in the Local Plan that is currently with Government inspectors, the site is proposed to get formal Green Belt protection!
The developers state that they are developing a ‘hybrid planning application’ for the site.
A number of residents who live on Moor Lane and on streets off have contacted us to say that they haven’t received the leaflet, but streets much further away, such as St Helens Road, have received it.
Stephen, Ann and Ashley at the proposed development site
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe’s Liberal Democrat councillors will continue to oppose plans to build on this site.
New threat emerges to Moor Lane Green Belt
Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton has expressed concern at the submission of an application for a ‘scoping opinion’ on proposals to develop land off Moor Lane in Woodthorpe that has been earmarked as Green Belt.
The application refers to plans to build 500 homes on land adjacent to the Askham Bog nature reserve, along with a school, sports facilities, allotments and public open space. It is believed to be a precursor to a more detailed planning application being submitted.
The red line marks the area for which an application has been made for a ‘scoping opinion’
Developers have previously set out their desire to develop the site, most recently in 2016 when they published a brochure setting out an aspiration to build 1,250 homes:
Commenting on the new application, Cllr Fenton said “This application for land that has been earmarked as Green Belt is unwelcome, and will be resisted.
“Throughout the various stages of consultation on York’s Local Plan, residents and local councillors have been firm in their opposition to the development of this site, which is right next to the Askham Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest.”
Following the submission of York’s Local Plan to Government on 25 May 2018, Planning Inspectors have been appointed to conduct an examination as to whether the Plan is ‘sound.’
What’s on – Love to Eat event on Thursday 26 October
The new owner of the Love to Eat café on Moor Lane is hosting a drinks and nibbles event on Thursday 26 October from 7pm to 9pm. The evening will be an opportunity to celebrate with Fiona (the new owner) and say farewell to the previous owner, Louise.
Café culture comes to Tadcaster Road
A new café is set to open on Tadcaster Road on Thursday 5 October.
Café at Number 12 is located next to the Post Office, in the premises most recently occupied by the Booboracum shop.
There is also a change of management at the popular Love to Eat café on Moor Lane. The café re-opens on Tuesday 3 October when Fiona takes over from Louise.
We wish both cafés a successful future!