York has a Local Plan for the first time in decades after councillors voted to approve it last night (Thursday).
The plan sets out development to 2038 including allocating sites for thousands of homes and commercial investment, defining the green belt and providing the basis for deciding planning applications.
City of York Council’s housing lead Cllr Michael Pavlovic said the decision was historic.
Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said communities would benefit but it aimed for too many homes.
Conservative Group leader Cllr Chris Steward said the adoption process had been “shambolic”.
Thursday’s decision means that York has a Local Plan for the first time since 1956.
The plan approved by councillors had its origins in the one submitted in 2018 during the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition administration, following earlier efforts by others to draft one.
The plan aims to see around 20,000 new homes built in York during its lifetime, or 822-a-year, including 4,000 affordable ones.
Councillors also approved modifications to the plan recommended by a Government inspector.
It also allocated sites for economic growth, including areas for employment and retail expansion, and sets out plans to invest in transport infrastructure such as bus routes and cycle paths.
Flood defences, energy-efficient building standards are among the measures set out to respond to climate change and its effects.
Protect York’s character
The plan also sets out measures to protect York’s historic character and safeguard it during future development while also defining the city’s green belt for the first time.
Council leader Cllr Douglas said the Local Plan would allow future development to take place in an appropriate way and help balance competing priorities.
She added it was right that the plan is reviewed in the near future given national planning policy changes and the parts of the Local Plan being seven years old.
Cllr Douglas said: “This will bring optimism that our great city will be developed in an appropriate and planned way, increasing the housing, economic growth, green space and infrastructure to support development that our city and its people so desperately need.”
Cllr Pavlovic said although everyone would have preferred to have adopted a Local Plan sooner, no one could say it had not been consulted on and scrutinised in detail.
The council’s housing and planning executive member said: “This is a historic day for York, setting a green belt boundary will provide protection against unwanted, speculative development.
“Purpose-built student accommodation will be subject to affordable housing contributions which should hopefully bring in additional income and reduce the proliferation of them in the city.”
Labour York Outer MP Luke Charters said the long-overdue Local Plan would help the city tackle an unprecedented housing crisis.
Mr Charters said: “Passing the plan is the first downpayment on addressing an affordability crisis which means people who grew up in York can no longer afford to live here and have to move further afield.”
Opportunities – and threats
Opposition Liberal Democrat leader Coun Ayre said the adoption of the plan presented opportunities but also threats.
Cllr Ayre said: “This will help deliver homes and economic growth while protecting what makes York York.
“But the inspector’s report says that the proposed number of homes is greater than population projections and it will be unworkable, impossible to deliver and economically unviable.
“This stretches the boundaries of what the city can accommodate and what the market can tolerate.”
Conservative group leader Cllr Steward said the passing of the Local Plan should provide pause for thought on how councillors from all parties could work better together in the future.
The Conservative said: “Although we’ve now got this over the line, it’s not been the finest example of the council working together, it’s been shambolic.
“We’ve got to reflect on this, given the current administration has a majority of one we need to do more cross-party work.
“If we had done that we would have avoided the utter nonsense we’ve had with this over the years.”