I very much agree with Cllr D’Agorne (Letters, May 3) that City of York Council should take over the derelict Barbican building site.

I suggest they bring in the architect firm they are already working with, Mikhail Riches, to develop a well-designed and much needed social housing scheme.

But this isn’t the only derelict building site which the council should take over.

In Fulford Road, the former Bristow’s Garage site has been fenced off and abandoned for many years.

Rather than keep waiting for the site owner to come up with a new and probably inappropriate scheme, it would be far better if the council took over the land and worked with neighbours to build well designed and affordable houses.

Christopher Rainger, Grange Street, York