New twist in York "battlefield" homes saga

4:01pm Sunday 17th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

A REVIEW has been launched by English Heritage which could scupper controversial plans for the Germany Beck housing project in York.

A planning row has centred on the land earmarked for about 700 houses on the outskirts of York, which campaigners maintain is the site of the Battle of Fulford in 1066.

Now English Heritage - which admits the site remains “the most likely candidate” for the Battle of Fulford - has confirmed it is undertaking a review of its decision not to officially designate the land as a battlefield and is due to look at evidence submitted by Chas Jones of the Fulford Battlefield Society again.

If the land is added to the Register of Historic Battlefields, planning permission approved by the Government in 2007 following a public inquiry would have to be reviewed.

The move could halt the housing development which has already been put on hold by Persimmon Homes during the economic downturn.

Comments(11)

bob the builder says...
7:49pm Sun 17 Feb 13

A&E will love that, another potential tourist attraction, bound to be some long dead and buried ancient nobility there to resurrect and inter in the Minster

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:56pm Sun 17 Feb 13

As an ex house owner in Fulford . I find this new move silly . I love Fulford and have fond memories . This form of obstruction and silliness is beyond any understanding . Who is trying to prove what . That land space is ideal . I know it . Build a small memorial in the middle of the developm

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
11:00pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Regrettably the internet took comments before i had finished -- YES -- allocate a square in the centre of the development to remember this Battle , Great . Let us move on . xx

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neutral observer 2 says...
2:56am Mon 18 Feb 13

No comments from the 150 year old family from York blaming the council leadership ?
Why ?
Because this time ......... " The move could halt the housing development which has already been put on hold by Persimmon Homes during the economic downturn".

Ahhhh , there you go. Its a developer not wishing to proceed.

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capt spaulding says...
9:11am Mon 18 Feb 13

The developer not wishing to proceed because the figures dont stack up, mainly due to the onerous requirements foisted on them by C o Y Council.
S 106 , too much affordable pepper potted around the site which also puts buyers off.

Yes the current downturn will have some effect but just get on a train to London and see the many many building sites IN PROGRESS along the way.

Theres something gone wrong in York.

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Semprini says...
9:20am Mon 18 Feb 13

Yorkie-Clifton wrote:
As an ex house owner in Fulford . I find this new move silly . I love Fulford and have fond memories . This form of obstruction and silliness is beyond any understanding . Who is trying to prove what . That land space is ideal . I know it . Build a small memorial in the middle of the developm
Regardless of any historical significance, the only thing "that land space is ideal" for is a paddling pool. Good luck to anyone who ends up living there and has to endure another wet year like 2012.

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Grumpy Old Man says...
11:11am Mon 18 Feb 13

Richard III was found in the car park because of evidence. The site of the Battle of Bosworth was recently moved because of evidence to show the battle was fought elsewhere. There is NO evidence - absolutely NOTHING - to prove any battle was ever fought on the land surrounding Germany Beck. Indeed, even a cursory reading of the Icelandic Sagas (the best description of the battle we have) would suggest that the Saxon line was anchored on Siward's Hill and ran down towards Hospital Fields, not Germany Beck.The site of the battle was a quaint historical mystery until the NIMBYs saw it as a chance to stop housebuilding in their backyard. As Yorkie-Clifton says, build a small memorial if you must but build the houses - the city is in desperate need of them.

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Theoutsider21 says...
2:29pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Hmm so if this development is so well needed, on this patch of land and all is fine with it, why have the council opted not to knock down and replace the care home on Fordlands road - they won't due to the flooding risk! So great, build 700 houses yards from there, as the developer must have special powers to prevent the site flooding!

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neutral observer 2 says...
4:17pm Mon 18 Feb 13

capt spaulding wrote:
The developer not wishing to proceed because the figures dont stack up, mainly due to the onerous requirements foisted on them by C o Y Council.
S 106 , too much affordable pepper potted around the site which also puts buyers off.

Yes the current downturn will have some effect but just get on a train to London and see the many many building sites IN PROGRESS along the way.

Theres something gone wrong in York.
No, what it says is down to economic downturn.
That'll be the same one effecting the whole country.
That's the whole country which is only building minimal housing , on a buy one sell one basis.
Germany Beck has been going on for at least 25 years. Long before you could blame the council.
Persimmon are sitting on it. Because they can and no doubt write down their land bank value.
Maybe we should all just listen to what a PLC says ? Beholden to a share holder not the public interest.

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meme says...
4:55pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Fordlands road has been stopped due to bats I think!!!!!!!!!!

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ncov0310 says...
5:04pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Grumpy Old Man wrote:
Richard III was found in the car park because of evidence. The site of the Battle of Bosworth was recently moved because of evidence to show the battle was fought elsewhere. There is NO evidence - absolutely NOTHING - to prove any battle was ever fought on the land surrounding Germany Beck. Indeed, even a cursory reading of the Icelandic Sagas (the best description of the battle we have) would suggest that the Saxon line was anchored on Siward's Hill and ran down towards Hospital Fields, not Germany Beck.The site of the battle was a quaint historical mystery until the NIMBYs saw it as a chance to stop housebuilding in their backyard. As Yorkie-Clifton says, build a small memorial if you must but build the houses - the city is in desperate need of them.
I don't doubt York is in need of housing, but why can't the hungate, terrys, nestle etc sites be transformed first before dereliction kicks in, and leave the untouched land as it is.

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