Inspector throws out church’s scheme for apartments (From York Press)

Inspector throws out church’s scheme for apartments

8:50am Thursday 17th July 2008

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A NATIONAL planning inspector has rejected plans for 14 apartments in York – saying houses, not flats, are needed in the city.

The decision was today welcomed by councillors but is a setback for a local church, which had planned to use the proceeds of the site’s sale to fund new community facilities.

Daniel Gath Homes Ltd wanted to demolish the former St Barnabas’ CE Primary School, in Bright Street, Leeman Road, and replace it with one and two-bedroom flats.

The firm has permission for the principle of replacing the school with housing, but City of York Council refused permission for flats, saying the area needed family housing.

Planning inspector Simon Berkeley has now backed the council, sending the developer back to the drawing board.

He said the council’s own assessments showed public demand was for family homes not flats, and added that, consequently, the proposed flats would “not be acceptable”.

Local councillor Sonja Crisp said: “We know very well that family homes are in short supply not only in this area but across York, and to allow developers to continue to build flats in an effort to maximise their profits to the detriment of the community, is, in my humble opinion, not ethical and the inspector’s decision reflects that.

“I sincerely hope that this decision will point the way to developers rethinking their plans and offering more much needed affordable family homes in the future, not only in this community, but across York.”

Fellow councillors James Alexander and Denise Bowgett also backed the decision, and said they would like to see the site become a community centre.

The Diocese of York stands to lose £400,000 if the sale of the site now falls through.

Tony Warren, a member of the St Barnabas Church parochial church council, previously told The Press that the revenue from the sale of the school building would have gone to new community facilities.

He said then: “Leeman Road is in desperate need of community facilities.

“I do fully understand the concerns expressed, but any delay in the sale of the old school will hinder any plan to bring quality community facilities to the area.”

The Press tried to contact Daniel Gath Homes yesterday, but was unable to do so.

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