A SOLUTION seems finally in sight to the troubles of the vandal-hit centre of a York estate, as councillors have approved plans to tear it down and transform it into much-needed affordable housing.
Leaders of City of York Council have agreed to the redevelopment of Sanderson House, in Bramham Road, Chapelfields.
Members of the council's executive have decided to lease the former shop and flat units to the Tees Valley Housing Group, for a one-off payment of £156,000.
Under the plan, the existing building will be torn down, and the housing group plans to build 12 "affordable family homes" on the site, which currently comprises of five ground-floor shop units, eight flats and 13 garages. Council chiefs have already outlined their commitment to providing affordable housing in York, to give people the chance to get on the property ladder in the face of spiralling house prices.
The derelict former shop and flat units, which became known as "Beirut" to local people because they proved such an attraction to vandals, have been at the centre of a political dispute during the past year. It was February when council officials suggested that the three-storey blocks could be demolished, after a survey carried out the previous month concluded that repairs to the flats and shops would cost £37,000. They said that the flats on the site could be used to help solve homelessness problems, but there was no guarantee that problems of anti-social behaviour associated with Sanderson House would not recur. Then it was decided not to demolish the block but leave it secure, leading to a row between the council's ruling Labour group and its Liberal Democrat opposition group, which called for the immediate demolition of Sanderson House.
In February a council scrutiny committee voted to demolish the building - only for its approvals/social services committee to reverse the decision the following month and leave the block standing.
Now Sanderson House is to be replaced by ten three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes.
Updated: 12:16 Monday, November 04, 2002
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