While it was good to see my housing sparring partner Paul Cordock return to the Letters page recently (Let’s put a bus depot there, October 20), I do feel that I have to yet again correct him.

York Central has not been put on hold due to the council’s “affordable housing policy” – which I will say again is up to 50 per cent, not 50 per cent, and depends on land conditions.

It could be said that there were too many landowners, a result of railway privatisation, fighting over the grip process – where the railway lines are to go – and who has what land left to sell to develop has held up the development. Perhaps the best person to ask would be Coun Steve Galloway, who sat on the York Central board as the lone councillor between 2003 and 2007, during the development boom.

Secondly, anyone in their right mind cannot be against energy-efficient homes (Costly upgrades, Letters, October 28). Does Mr Cordock really support the building of cold homes with ever increasing fuel bills? Is it right that only those who have the finances to afford to retro fit a new home should live in a warm, energy-efficient home?

The scheme to retro-fit a terrace house is an experiment, and experiments cost. It’s a way of moving forward, as we cannot continue to have people living in cold, energy-inefficient homes pouring out CO2 emissions.

While the project he is criticising may be a six-figure one it may well be that the ideas that come out of it are a lot less, so let’s wait and see before making a final judgement.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour spokesperson for housing, City of York Council, Salisbury Road, York.