Agenda item

3.)  Severus Hill Development

On Severus Hill, landowners want to put it up for auction, with a £95k opening price. Councillors went to meet with the Yorkshire Water and its associate developer. There have been attempts at developments – previously turned down as too many houses were proposed. It is a SINC (Site of Interest for Nature Conservation), so it has some protections. A previous application to develop 47 houses was rejected by CYC on several grounds. The landowners have agreed to pause the action for six months to let the community think if maybe they could buy it (the land).

Severus Hill - Questions and Answers

Q. Could one house be built there, or will the existing protections (based on it being designated as a SINC suffice? Would this take into account other planning considerations.

A. The policy wording was explained for the protection of the site. An ecologist will look at what is on the site. Whilst planning protections are in place, no guarantee can be confirmed regarding whether or not development could occur (such as one or two houses being built). For example, if a private buyer purchased it, the Planning team can’t categorically state whether or not development would occur later. Changing the nature from wilderness to a dwelling would be against the policy wording, so the existing protections would suffice[JK1] .

Q. If there were to be a frustrated landowner scenario in the future (held back from developing due to the nature policy protections), and they perhaps hoped to degrade or reduce the nature qualities of the site over the years… could that be prevented?

A. The ecologist would need to look into that. If there was flora or fauna that was protected we would action to prevent them from reducing or degrading the habitat.

Q. Comment re beauty and importance of the site. Could someone but the land with the hope that development will be allowed in the future?

Q. If the land gets bought by a developer – could they put two large houses, on part of the site, for example, and keep part of the hill for wildlife?

A.  Planning would consider any application on its specifics – They would need to provide habitat protection. With the nature of it being a SINC, it would need to be preserved and there were several factors which would make housing development unlikely.

Cllr Jenny Kent – Councillors had already held an initial community meeting to explore residents' views at which Duncan Marks, a member of York Civic Trust, gave a talk on the history of the Hill. Collecting views on the future of the site. Some people wanted to community fundraise and buy it (Severus Hill). Beginning of a community decision and wanted to raise it today.

Discussion that group could undertake a survey via Yorkshire Wildlife Trust where records of flora and fauna, examples of conditions on that land, and the provenance - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust would be interested in being a part of that, as they said at the outcome of the meeting on Saturday (18^th November).

Agreement that adding protection of Severus Hill would be ideal for inclusion in a Neighbourhood Plan.

The community only have six months for the community to get together and potentially raise funds to buy it.

Q. Yorkshire Water terms of reference – is it to develop land? What’s the reason for it – is it not going against its own ethos? (i.e. to protect natural resources)

A. They (Yorkshire Water) must not want it anymore and are looking at selling – they are not interested in what will happen with it after that.

Comment from attendees: They have disposed of a lot of small parcels of lands via Keyland – their job is to maximise the value of the land before selling it.

Cllr Taylor – Keyland will be looking at covering their costs here only. They try to work with the community here. They tried to work with a community group elsewhere in the country, but that didn’t really work.

Topic raised of the Natural World Fund Charity. – apparently they are interested in the site and they posted on the Friends of Severus Hill Facebook page. Are they still interested in it?

Cllr Jenny Kent – that is a possibility.

Q. Is it not of interest of neighbours/those who live near Severus Hill, to purchase it to prevent development? Could CYC place a £2 levy on every house in York to buy Severus Hill land?

A. CYC are not able to buy it, and cannot place a levy on houses to do so.

Comment : [JK2] Your Space is another partner with a governance structure. However, having many ideas there, could it be turned into a green belt? Timeframe mentioned: ecological survey would need to be done first.

Q. Back to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust – could they buy it?

A. They are not in a position to buy it – they take on big sites and this one is too small for them.

Comment: the six-month window starts from the new year – of holding the sale of the site.

Q. The company want to re-coup the cost… so could we (the community) ask if they could sell it to the community without an auction?

A. We (Holgate Ward Councillors) did ask that. We are not in a negotiation position but the indication was that £168k as a ball park figure. This could be a conversation to have when you (as a community) know what you have got

Q. They are a private business – they paused because they know more can be built on it?

A. Someone may buy it in the future, because it is a nice piece of land. It was transferred by Yorkshire Water at the price of £98k. Our planning department has it covered (i.e. protected under the environmental planning policy), but it is a risk. If the community were to buy it, it would belong to the community. To make the site more biodiverse, could we buy shares in it i.e. selling Biodiversity credits. Another reason for formulating NP. Please volunteer if you would like to be involved.

On Severus Hill – another meeting prior to Christmas to be arranged.

Acomb is looking at creating a NP, and it previously included Lindsey Avenue. Whatever happens next with each plan, they need to complement each other.