LOW cost housing could be built on a York business park if a decision is taken to remove historic development rules restricting the site.

An empty 12,500 sq ft office block, which businesses have turned away from, could become 21 one-bedroomed apartments under the scheme.

An application to lift a restrictive covenant on the Pioneer Business Park at Clifton Moor is due to be decided by the city council's cabinet member for finance, Cllr Dafydd Williams, this Thursday.

Developers the Helmsley Group have applied to the council for the restrictions to be lifted so they can convert officer buildings which have been lying empty on the site for a number of years into apartments, with parking, shared gardens, and play areas.

A council paper produced in June this year said that since the council sold the land for offices and business parks in the 1980s, many have fallen empty and become difficult if not impossible to let.

Although there is high demand for good quality offices in the city centre, businesses have "voted with their feet" when it comes to Clifton Moor, officials said.

Lately so many applications have been made to lift the covenants on Clifton Moor offices that the council has set out a formal policy to make sure enough facilities - like parking, cycle shed, bin storage and play areas - exist for then decent housing before the covenants are lifted.

The new homes will be available as "starter homes" marketed for first time buyers, or as low cost rented accommodation, and council officials have recommended that the rules which say the buildings have be used as offices to waived so they can be brought back into use.

A report to Cllr Williams says developers do not want to resort to legal action to get the restrictions lifted, meaning the cabinet member needs to take the decision to stop the buildings lying empty for even longer, and the council will received an undisclosed lump sum of money if the plans can go ahead, because they do not include what officials consider to be "affordable housing".