Battlefield fears as 655 homes set for go-ahead

The 655-home scheme has been recommended for approval by planning officers at York Council despite historians maintaining the land on the outskirts of the city is the site of the Battle of Fulford in 1066.

Members of the Fulford Battlefield Society who are staunchly opposed to the multi-million pound development have pledged to launch a last-ditch attempt to prevent York Council’s planning committee giving the go-ahead for detailed plans for the scheme next week.

Historian Chas Jones, who formed the society, told the Yorkshire Post last night that he is set to make representations to the planning committee’s meeting on Thursday next week when councillors consider the reserved matters application from the developers, Persimmon Homes and Hogg the Builder.

He said: “I am disappointed 
that the application has been 
recommended for approval and the evidence (about the battlefield) has been ignored. 
I have asked councillors to visit the site to show them exactly 
what they are putting at risk if the housing scheme is approved.

“It is of huge historical importance, but it is a site that has such enormous economic potential for the city for tourism. It would be absolutely appalling and a travesty if the planning application is given the go-ahead.”

Residents and members of Fulford Parish Council have both made submissions to the council claiming the housing scheme will be built on a site, dubbed Germany Beck, which witnessed the Battle of Fulford.

English Heritage has admitted the site earmarked for the development remains “the most likely candidate” for the clash between Viking invaders and English forces, which had a huge impact on the Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror ultimately being crowned King of England.

The organisation admitted there has been “a great deal of debate” surrounding the battle, but a question mark remains over its precise location.

However, the council’s planning officers have maintained the reserved matters application, which includes details of the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the homes, would “not cause undue harm to interests of acknowledged importance”.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in February that English Heritage is undertaking a review of its decision not to officially designate the land as a battlefield after being presented with new evidence. The Fulford Battlefield Society claimed the planning fight has been mired in misleading information presented by York-based Persimmon Homes, which is one of the UK’s biggest developers.

Extensive archaeological work has found evidence of Iron Age, Romano-British and medieval activity, but nothing can be “securely identified” as coming from the Battle of Fulford, according to English Heritage. The national register already lists 43 battlefields including Stamford Bridge and Towton in North Yorkshire as well as Hastings in East Sussex, Bosworth Field in Leicestershire and Naseby in Northamptonshire.

Both York Council and Persimmon Homes have stressed there is no conclusive proof to suggest the land was the location of the battle. The director of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, Simon Usher, was adamant English Heritage’s assessment was “thorough, comprehensive and conclusive” in its recommendation not to include the site on the register.

The Germany Beck scheme is one of several key sites which are seen as vital to addressing York’s affordable housing crisis. The council unveiled a draft city-wide strategy, called the Local Plan, on Friday last week to build more than 20,000 homes, while 20 sites have been identified for economic development which could bring as many as 16,000 new jobs.