WHILE it is good news that, at long last, new interest has been shown in the Nestlé building in Haxby Road, great care must be taken with this particular site on various aspects.

Firstly, the original Nestlé plan back in 2011 was for a total of 367 dwellings that included 166 family homes as well as 46 apartments along with various other developments.

The new plan being put forward is only for 283 apartments.

There is no mention of family homes and no mention of affordable homes, up to now.

Secondly, traffic is a major concern, as I can only see two areas of access to the proposed accommodation and exit into the city from this site, both of which are extremely congested already.

These are via Gillygate or alternatively via Haley’s Terrace and then along Huntington Road.

Thirdly, this will lead to extra environmental pollution created by an increased number of vehicles, and ways to alleviate this would need to be an essential priority.

As I say, a welcome initiative but any planning consent would have to be thorough and sensitive along with affordable housing and rented accommodation, and the possibility of new council housing as well as a new traffic consultation.

Howard Perry, St James Place, Dringhouses, York