HOUSE prices in York are going through the roof, with the average cost soaring towards a quarter of a million pounds.

Latest Land Registry figures show that the average York property price in May was £246,109 – up by 7.6 per cent on May 2016.

The figure is higher than the average for England of £237,662, Ryedale’s average of £213,998, Selby’s £187,928, North Yorkshire’s £212,005 and Hull’s average, of just £104,155.

The statistics have reinforced fears that York properties are surging out of the reach of first time buyers and fuelled fresh debate over the city’s Local Plan.

York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell said that over the past 10 years, house prices in York had risen almost five times as fast as the rest of Yorkshire, key workers were being priced out of housing and lowest earners were having to find 8.9 times their earnings to afford the cheapest properties.

“In my surgery appointments, housing is a massive and regular cause of stress and concern for my constituents,” she said.

She claimed delays in York’s Local Plan caused a 52 per cent fall in the number of affordable homes completed in 2015/16, adding: “We urgently need family sized housing, social housing and affordable housing for York residents.”

York Outer Tory MP Julian Sturdy said York was a "fantastic" place to live and this was reflected in house prices. “However it is important this is not a barrier, particularly to young families who are struggling to get a foot on the housing ladder,” he said.

“The Local Plan provides an opportunity to deliver the type of housing York needs, particularly family accommodation. The York Central site will provide over 1,000 homes at the heart of our city and we must ensure it delivers for local families.” He added that the Government aimed to deliver 1.5 million homes between 2015 and 2022.

Labour councillor Dafydd Williams said: “We desperately need a Local Plan that delivers sustainable growth in the number of homes in York or we will increasingly see York become a place that only the wealthy elites can afford to live in.”

He said so many people were choosing to live in York because it was a great place to live, but the impact on housing was simple. “In York we have very high demand and not enough supply and that’s why our prices and rents are soaring so quickly.”

Tory council leader David Carr said York was a very desirable city in which to live, with a healthy economy, and so in some ways high house prices were a problem of its success.

“This creates special pressures when planning for future housing in York,” he said.

“We need to listen to the concerns of existing residents and plan for the future whilst at the same time safeguarding the aspects of York that make it such a fantastic place to live: its heritage, its open spaces, its rural villages, its green belt. We believe that our draft Local Plan strikes this delicate balance.”

So what can you buy for £246,000 in York?

ONE example of the sort of property you can buy in York for the average price of £246,000 is a newly built two-bedroom detached mews house in Compton Mews, just off Clifton Green and ‘close to the city centre.’

Estate agents Hudson Moody, who are selling it with a guide price of £245,000, say there is a ‘large, light and spacious open plan sitting and dining kitchen area,’ which features a ‘good range of fitted wall and floor units with integral appliances.'

It says there is a good range of local amenities and shops and the property has off-street parking and is within easy reach of York Hospital, two independent secondary schools and a primary school.

Other properties in the same price range being sold by the firm include a two-bedroom detached bungalow in Wheatfield Lane, Haxby.

Ben Hudson of Hudson Moody said many factors made York an 'oasis,' including good train connections and schools, and with countryside and coastline nearby, and this pushed prices up.

He added: “It’s all about location, location, location.”

Meanwhile, Churchills are selling a four bedroom semi in Rawcliffe Drive, Rawcliffe, for £245,000, with one of its cheapest houses being a two bedroom end of terrace house in Kingsway West, Acomb, for £155,000.

Your Move Anscombs, are selling a three bedroom townhouse in Princess Drive, Boroughbridge Road, for £245,000 . The firm has a ‘superb first time buy’ in a one bedroom first floor maisonette in Gresley Court, Beckfield Place, Acomb, for £100,000.