York council fails to determine housing plans after FOUR years. Now the builder wants action

A national housebuilder has asked the Government to rule on its plans for west York, after waiting more than four years for a council decision.

Miller Homes wants to build 266 houses on the old Civil Service Sports Ground off Boroughbridge Road and Millfield Lane and submitted a planning application to City of York Council in December 2014, but is still waiting for a decision.

It has now asked the national Planning Inspectorate to intervene, due to the council’s “non-determination” of the case.

The firm says its plans contribute to “the timely provision of much needed housing, including affordable homes, in a sustainable location in York” and said:

• This is a positive benefit given the significant shortfall of affordable housing in York and the delay which will inevitably result in the recent decision to conduct further consultation on the new Local Plan prior to examination hearings.
  

Miller Homes has asked for a four-day public inquiry, saying that the scale and nature of its plans inevitably require discussion of complex planning issues.

Engaged in extensive dialogue

Its consultants, Planning Prospects, said in a written submission to the council: “The full planning application was submitted in December 2014 and registered with the local planning authority on 8th January 2015.

“The application proposed a high quality residential development of 271 dwellings, access, public open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure. It was supported by a suite of supporting documents and reports…

“The application was amended in response to consultee comments and amendments and updated information was submitted to the council on 7th March 2017.

“The revised application reduced the total number of dwellings proposed to 266 dwellings… Despite resolving all technical matters over the extended determination period and engaging in extensive dialogue with officers throughout, the application remained undetermined by the council.”

It said there was ambiguity around whether the site was in York’s green belt, which remains undefined, but said it had long been earmarked for housing.

Mike Slater, City of York Council’s assistant director for planning and public protection, said: “The council can no longer determine the application as it is now with the Secretary of State to determine but the planning committee will be asked to indicate what its position on the application is for the purposes of the appeal at a meeting next month.”