CONTROVERSIAL plans for 70 new houses on York playing fields have been given the go-ahead, despite last-minute pleas for refusal by local residents.

City of York Council’s planning committee heard this evening that more than 1,300 people had signed a petition against the loss of the fields off Windmill Lane and Hull Road, owned by York St John University.

Objector Andy Payne, who said people would face a ‘crazy’ hour-long walk to replacement facilities in Haxby Road, warned that the city as a whole had a shortage of open spaces, and urged councillors: “Decline the planning application. Save our playing fields.”

 

York Press:

But town planning consultant Janet O’Neill, speaking on behalf of the university, said it was a charity which had to act within the law and within its charitable objectives, and regulators would not permit it to make available three football pitches for the permanent use of the general public. The development would also help meet York’s need for 841 houses to be built each year.

Cllr John Galvin said most of the objections were not planning issues, and he would ‘bet 50p’ that any refusal would be overturned by an inspector on appeal, and the committee should not give objectors ‘false hope’.

Committee chair Cllr Ann Reid said 55 per cent of the site would become public open space if the scheme went ahead, and there were no planning grounds for refusal.

The committee’s approval will now be referred to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

The Save Windmill Lane Playing Fields campaign group said afterwards that the majority of councillors agreed with its ‘moral arguments’ and voted mainly on pure planning procedures, adding: “York St John University may finish the richer but the community is the poorer for it. Once these green spaces have been built on they are gone for ever.”

A separate scheme by developers Newby to convert the former Rowntree Almond and Cream factory buildings into 258 apartments, convert the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library into a concierge base and community room and create a new access road from Haxby Road and a new convenience store was approved unanimously.

Janet O’Neill, speaking for the developer, said the buildings had lain empty for nearly ten years and were showing signs of disrepair, and changes had been made to original proposals to meet concerns of heritage bodies.

Cllr Reid said the site was looking run-down and the scheme would provide much needed housing but Cllr Andy D’Agorne was unhappy only five homes would be affordable.