Agenda item

6.  Local Development Framework (LDF) proposals

6.1       Martin Grainger introduced the consultation on the LDF and made the following comments:

§        The current consultation is about a strategic blueprint for the long term, based on key principles and asking various questions such as how many homes should be built? How many jobs?  What sort of city do residents want and how should York grow?

§        Many residents had seen changes and there had been significant growth in the last 150 years.  Work so far shows there is sufficient land available for development until 2021.  However, looking for more land in case there is a need for further growth

§        Land to North of Haxby seen as unnecessary to include as an area of search

§        Perturbed to hear 2-3 weeks ago from a resident about a leaflet being distributed by a development consultant (Nathaniel Litchfield) stating they were in contact with CYC when this is not the case

§        Encouraged people to read the leaflet insert with July Your Ward/Your City, ask questions and return the leaflet to the Freepost address by Friday 28 August 2009. 

6.2       Residents asked questions and made comments as follows:

C/Q:  As a town councillor received copy of leaflet from development consultant claiming they are working with the city council.  Why is Haxby land included in leaflet? 

A:  CYC is not working with Nathaniel Litchfield (NL).  The leaflet went to influencers such as Haxby Town Council and ward councillors; CYC had written to NL at the same time.  The leaflet is misleading and untrue.  Haxby land is included because the owner wants to be able to sell it and make a profit.

Q:  The LDF item was not on the advertised agenda.  Questions in the leaflet have been asked before – why are they being asked again?

A:  The LDF item was not known about when the Your Ward newsletter went to print.  If want further meetings, happy to respond.  Views may have changed following new information; this is a different plan that is being consulted on.  Important that people respond now.

Q:  LDF and housing for the future: how involved have you been with other providers?

A:  Need to include all other factors such as Primary Care Trust and Environment Agency as well as Education, Transport, open spaces and flood risk.  Preferred options are such because of issues like transport, so land north of Haxby is not preferred.  NL leaflet makes the site look like a community.

C/Q:  Good to see lot of research on, for example, leisure facilities.  Open space is at a premium.  ‘70s was a rubbish decade!  Protect future allotment sites from future development

A:  Allotment re-provision will be at existing standard and within 750m of existing site.  Looked at current planning and possible future requirement when examining options to replace allotments to be displaced by proposed rail station.  It will take 12 months to go through the consultation process so we will have a strong document that will make planning decisions that are contrary to it very difficult.  Any change to the plan will take 3 years and cost a lot.  Importance of open space in the city has been given high priority in the LDF.

C:  Question on flood risk in leaflet is insulting people’s intelligence.

A:  Not intended to be so

Q:  Are more detailed plans available? 

A:  LDF is an emerging and evolving document.  We’re half way through the statutory process.  If you support the LDF proposals, please respond.  The full document is available on line at www.york.gov.uk/LDF/corestrategy.