‘Outrageous!’ Residents shocked by plan to add two extra floors above their flats in York

Two extra storeys could be added to a block of apartments in York.

But neighbours and people who already live in the block of flats have hit back at the plans, calling them “over the top” and “slightly insane”.

One resident said they find it “outrageous” that extra floors could be built on top of flats owned by the people who live in them.

A planning application has been submitted to add two more floors – totally four additional apartments – to a building in Sandringham Court next to White Cross Rehabilitation Hospital in Clifton.

The council has already received 35 letters objecting to the scheme.

Developer NW Architects have submitted plans to extend the building, which already has six flats.

‘Very suitable’

Thier application says: “The site is in a very sustainable location.

“Due to the distance from surrounding properties there will be minimal impact on the existing and neighbouring properties.

“The proposed development will not affect any protected views.

“There are currently six apartments within the existing building which is served by six dedicated parking spaces, one per apartment.”

It says plans include building a further four two-bedroom flats, with no extra parking spaces.

One letter objecting to the scheme says people purchased their flats with the assumption that the building was complete. They write: “I’m not a property lawyer … but this seems a slightly insane proposition.

“The level of disruption would be intolerable. And all of this would be so the applicants could squeeze more money out of a development completed almost eight years ago.”

Another neighbour said they bought a top floor flat to avoid noise from someone living above them in the building.

Others raised worries about the building being made much taller than the surrounding homes and fears that there would not be enough parking for four new apartments.

Another neighbour wrote: “I find it outrageous that a developer can be allowed to build on top of a building that is owned by someone else without that owner’s consent.”

To look at the planning application, go here.