Concerns are mounting among residents over a proposed housing development in the north of York.
The plans, submitted by developers Barratt David Wilson Homes and Vistry Homes, would see an 81-acre site in Haxby developed with up to 800 homes in varying sizes. The proposal also includes self build plots and designated Gypsy and Traveller pitches.
Since the plans were first proposed in January 2023, the number of homes has fluctuated, with the most recent revision increasing from 640 to 700.
YorkMix spoke to Wigginton resident and parish council member Richard Denton, who shared his thoughts about the scale and impact of the development.
“The main access to the development is right past my house. Both the construction traffic and residents tend to go through Wigginton to get to the ring road much more than they would Haxby, so the development will have a big effect on residents from both villages.”
While Richard understands the need for more housing, he feels the scale of the proposed development is inappropriate for the location.
His three major concerns are:
- Pressure on the already strained local road network
- Futher stress on overstretched health services
- A lack of plans to extend Haxby and Wigginton Cemetery.
He fears that the increased traffic will further damage the roads, which are already in poor condition, and contribute to the growing congestion.
Initially, plans included a new link road connecting the site directly to Sutton Road, allowing traffic to access the ring road from there.
However, this was dropped, meaning all traffic would use the existing village roads, something Richard believes they can’t handle.
“That will put extra strain on the already busy roads,” he said. “The state of the roads in Wigginton are very poor. A lot of the culverts are collapsing, which we believe to be because of the increased weight of electric buses.”
He added, “All the construction traffic for the development will come through Mill Lane and then through the village. The lorries carrying building materials, concrete, bricks and sand will only deteriorate the roads even more.”
Councillors are also unsure about the growing scale of the development, as well as the lack of vital infrastructure needed to support it.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Andrew Hollyer for Haxby and Wigginton, said, “The developers have now proposed an even larger scheme, yet there’s still no sign of the infrastructure that’s needed to support it.
“We all recognise the need for more affordable housing but Haxby’s roads are already under pressure, and the shelving of key elements of the dualling of the York Outer Ring Road makes this concerning.”
Health services under pressure
There is only one GP practice serving both Haxby and Wigginton.
Richard described trying to get an appointment as “a nightmare” and fears the situation will worsen with the arrival of new residents.
“Seven hundred houses, that’s going to be around another 2,000 people, presumably.”
He said that NHS services in Haxby and Wigginton already find it difficult to cope with the existing population.
“I’ve got personal experience of this recently with my own wife, she was fairly seriously ill and getting an appointment with a doctor was a nightmare.
“If you ring up wanting a doctor’s appointment locally, it’s around three to four weeks before you can actually see a doctor, even if it’s considered serious. It’s not easy and this is going to make it worse,” he told YorkMix.
“The situation is similar for dental care, with all three local practices “just about fully subscribed”, says Richard.
Although developers have said they will fund additional health provision, Richard remains uncertain.
“They came up with lots of figures saying that they would provide the health centres with thousands of pounds, but they’re trying to attract extra doctors now, and they can’t.
“So even if they do provide funding, they’re still going to have problems trying to staff it,” he said.
Cllr Ian Cutherbertson shared these concerns, stating, “Our local NHS services are already stretched.
“Many residents tell us they’re struggling to get GP appointments or access to an NHS dentist, and we’ve seen no guarantees that this development will come with the healthcare provision we desperately need.
Cemetery space worries
Another issue troubling residents is the future of the Haxby and Wigginton Cemetery, which is expected to be full within ten years.
The cemetery borders the proposed development site and is earmarked for expansion in York’s local plan.
However, no provision has been made within the development plans to support this.
“One of the reasons given was that they considered buried remains would contaminate the water system,” Richard told YorkMix.
He disputes these claims, and explained that the current service has been there prior to the war, and has seen no contamination from the “probably thousands” of burials since then.
As a compromise, residents suggested using green space within the development for cremated remains, which pose no risk of contamination.
Richard says that so far, planners have rejected this option.
Community voices
Richard posted updates on the increased housing allowance to a local community Facebook group, where many expressed concern.
Comments included: “Words fail me,” and “We don’t want all these houses.”
One resident wrote:
“This is going to ruin Haxby. We’re already suffering where serious conditions are going on too long before diagnoses as we can’t get appointments, the traffic is ridiculous, the potholes are atrocious, the schools are good but no places left, leaving to people having to drive far away, or pay private tuition which is un affordable. We all need to put our valid comments on the planning site.”
Liberal Democrat councillors are urging residents to have their say on the revised plans.
Cllr Cuthbertson added: “We’re encouraging all residents to look at these revised plans and make their voices heard. This is a major change for our area and the consequences will be long-lasting. Everyone’s input is vital before decisions are made.”
A new public consultation period is now underway, closing on 15 May 2025.
Residents can view the full application (reference 23/00160/OUTM) and submit comments by visiting the City of York Council planning portal or emailing here before 15 May 2025.
Richard believes that by adjusting the devlopment plans slightly, they’d be more welcomed by the community.
“If they reduce the number of houses on the site, they’d be more space available for recreation on the site. That would improve things,” he told YorkMix.
Comment from the developers
A spokesperson for Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire East, gave this statement to YorkMix:
“The updated proposals for new homes and open green space on Land North of Haxby comes following extensive discussions with City of York Council officers and consultation with the local community.
“A range of adaptations are proposed, including on key matters like highways, healthcare and education, which will be achieved through significant financial contributions. Following discussions with NHS representatives, we are proposing a substantial investment aimed at increasing access to NHS treatments. A children’s nursery will be provided on-site alongside a financial contribution for wider education services.
“Some 30% of this development will provide much-needed affordable homes to help people on to the housing ladder. We look forward to a planning decision in the near future.”
Are you a Haxby or Wigginton resident? What are your thoughts on the development? Let us know here.