DEVELOPERS have started building an access road into York’s biggest housing development, to the anger of residents who received no prior warning, says a councillor.

Persimmon Homes is finally progressing with its much delayed scheme to build 655 homes on the Germany Beck site at Fulford by laying hardstanding for the new road near the former Fordlands Care Home, said Fulford councillor Keith Aspden.

He said it was believed the company was starting the work to comply with planning permission granted five years ago, under which work had to start by May 9.

“Local residents understand from workers on the site that they are installing the first layer of hardcore,” said Cllr Aspden, a Liberal Democrat who is standing for re-election next month.

He said it was disappointing that no information was given to local residents or Fulford Parish Council that work would begin this week, and they awoke to find builders there on Monday morning.

“There are still some outstanding issues which residents should have received information on before work begun, including the ‘pinch-point’ proposals for the A19 linked to the development and further details on how some of the planning conditions will be met.”

He claimed a consistent problem throughout the process had been a lack of meaningful engagement with local residents, and he had written to City of York Council officers, asking for an urgent update and repeating his calls for local residents to be told what is happening at every stage of the process.

He added that archaeologists were also on site to carry out metal detecting and supervise soil removal, following a high court judge’s rejection of the latest appeals against the plans by local historian Chas Jones who claims the site is the location of the 1066 Battle of Fulford.

Simon Usher, deputy managing director at Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “At long last we are delighted to have implemented the planning permission. We are very much looking forward to househunters registering interest in our new homes very soon.

“The first stage of work comprising the laying of a small section of the access road, approximately 10m in length, has commenced this week following the discharge of all the pre-commencement conditions.

“This work has been undertaken to ensure a legal start has taken place under the planning regulations to secure the planning permission and will last no more than five days. This operation has been conducted in full compliance with the planning permission and the restrictions it imposes.

“We did seek to discuss our intentions at a local community forum recently but our offer to attend was refused. Following these initial implementation works, the next stage of the development will be more significant and advance notice will be given.”