9:39am Friday 3rd September 2010
By Reader's letter
THE Derwenthorpe development (The Press, August 23) has become a costly exercise because City of York Council overlooked Osbaldwick council’s warning that the European Commission’s rules should be considered when selling the land to Joseph Rowntree Trust in 2003.
Did the trust know that the council had to consider EU members when selling the land?
The 540 homes planned by the trust were to be a mixture of several types, all eco-friendly with features for the disabled in some. Even the “affordable homes” will be very expensive to comply with the latest building regulations.
Far-reaching plans include removing pylons and providing underground power lines to enhance the residents’ outlook. This and the usual, no doubt eco-friendly, development of this large area will result in a huge financial outlay. This and the £100,000 or so solicitors’ fees, plus others not yet disclosed, amounts to a large sum.
If the houses planned are ever finally completed, it is certain that they will be the most expensive houses of each type ever built in York or anywhere else this century.
J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.
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