Agenda and draft minutes

To receive and note apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received and noted for Cllrs Ayre and Fisher.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members].

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on the agenda, if they had not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. There were none.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the committee.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as 2 working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings.  The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5:00pm on Monday 3 February 2025. 

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services.  Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

During coronavirus, we made some changes to how we ran council meetings, including facilitating remote participation by public speakers. See our updates (www.york.gov.uk/COVIDDemocracy) for more information on meetings and decisions.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme on general matters within the remit of the Planning Committee A.

This item invites Members to determine the following planning application:

Members considered a schedule of reports of the Head of Planning and Development, relating to the following planning applications, outlining the proposals and relevant policy considerations and setting out the views of consultees and officers.

Due to the Vice Chair not being present, Cllr Whitcroft proposed and Cllr Melly proposed Cllr Cullwick as Vice Chair for the meeting. Following a unanimous vote, Cllr Cullwick was appointed as Vice Chair for the meeting.

Erection of 114no. dwellings with access, open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage [Dringhouses and Woodthorpe Ward]

Members considered a major full application from Gateway Developments/Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) for the erection of 114 dwellings with access, open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage on land to the south of Sim Balk Lane, York.

The Head of Planning and Development Services gave a presentation on the application. She noted that the scheme was 100% affordable housing. In response to Member questions she and officers showed on the screen in room:

Where the park and ride, cycle route and bus stops were.

Where the hedgerow on Sim Balk Lane was and confirmed that it was outside the red line boundary.

The area highlighted by the Police Architectural Liaison Officer on the northwest corner of the site.

Where the open drainage infrastructure was. 

An update on the application was given and it was reported that there had been additional information from the Agent/Applicant regarding grey belt policy, transport and highways technical response note, travel and ecology advice. There had also been additional consultee comments from Highways Network Management, Design and Conservation (Ecology), Open Space and Recreation, and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Officer responses to the points raised by the Agent/Applicant were also included in the update.

Public Speakers

Joe Nasson spoke in objection to the application on behalf of Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club. He explained that 600 players from around the city used the pitches. He noted that there had been damage to the facility from unauthorised access and that maintenance costs was high and the club relied on volunteers. He noted that the scheme would bring a risk to safety from traffic and the significant safety measures needed to mitigate risk. He noted the flood risk and expressed concern that the site could flood. In response to Member questions, he explained that the concern was regarding the fence and the club was not objecting to the housing.  Regarding engagement from the applicant, he explained that there was a meeting that the club didn’t go to early on in the planning stage about potential parking for the club.

Stephen White, a resident in Bishopthorpe, spoke in objection to application. He explained that the applicant was not the owner of the site and expressed concern regarding the signage erected by developer on application site. He noted that affordable housing should be in a sustainable location and he noted the council brownfield register. He expressed concern that the scheme would cause congestion from the average of two cars per dwelling. In response to a question from a Member, the Chair noted that the signage was not part of the application.

Cllr Fenton, Ward Cllr for Dringhouses and Woodthorpe spoke in objection to the application. He supported the officer recommendation to refuse the application. He thanked the applicant for their engagement. He noted his support for affordable housing and the drawbacks of the scheme. The drawbacks included cycle parking not being LTN compliant, no alternative access points for emergency vehicles, the bus stop being 500m from the furthest point of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.