Concern has been raised over plans to allow York Minster to avoid paying £365K towards affordable housing as it seeks to develop luxury flats in the city.
As we reported in April, the cathedral owns Church House in Ogleforth, and wants to turn it from offices into 11 flats, some overlooking the hidden St William’s College Garden.
The move would bring in £150,000 per year in rental income – which would help towards the £22,000 a day it costs to run the Minster.
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Under planning rules, property developers either have to ensure a certain percentage of homes are affordable, or pay a contribution towards affordable housing in York.
But a report going to tomorrow’s planning committee says: “The applicants have stated that there is a clear case for not providing any affordable housing contribution.
“Usually this can only be discounted on the basis of a non-viable scheme. The applicants have not presented the scheme as being unviable however.”
Under the formula the Minster would be liable to pay £365,292.40 towards affordable housing in York.
Instead, council officers are recommending this money is redirected towards a Minster conservation project, specifically restoring the medieval Mauley Window in the South Nave Aisle.
‘People need homes’
The report says: “Officers consider that the support for the conservation works at the Minster is a public and heritage benefit and a material consideration, to which significant weight can be attached which can outweigh the requirements of draft affordable housing policy.”
However, the decision has been questioned by former independent councillor Johnny Hayes.
He said: “York Minster is a wonderful building and deserving of support. But should money that is allocated specifically to affordable homes be spent on restoring stained glass windows rather than on people who need homes?”
A spokesperson for the Dean and Chapter which runs York Minster said: “The redevelopment of Church House is part of a 15-year strategy for the care and sustainable future of York Minster set out in the Neighbourhood Plan developed over 22 months of public consultation.
“Financial sustainability is a key element of the plan.
“This means always ensuring that we have the funds available to care for the Minster, one of the city’s greatest assets.
“Currently it costs £22,000 per day to run the Minster and fund the annual cycle of conservation and restoration.
“We have no other source of funding other than making the best of our existing assets, paying visitors and the generosity of our donors.
“Asking the city to support our application for these funds from Church House to restore and conserve one of our windows, will in turn, free up funds that to support the development of significant public good projects proposed in the plan, namely two new parks (the first already has planning permission) and a brand new public square at Duncombe Place.”