Demolition battle to be decided at inquiry

The Planning Inspectorate has confirmed that the future of the Phoenix Street and Richard Cooper Street area of Goole will be decided at a public inquiry.

In early December, East Riding Council served a compulsory purchase order on the landlords who own eight of the 117 terraced properties on the two streets. The rest of the properties have been acquired by the council and its partner.

The landlords, who make up Goole Action Group, insist renovation is more cost-effective than demolition and rebuild. They say the Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing is still structurally sound and would pass any structural survey.

Several years ago they presented a plan they claimed would see the houses refurbished and offered to buyers at prices far below the Government's affordable house price.

However, last year the council's planning committee gave permission to Peter Ward Homes to build 59 houses – including 19 affordable houses – on the clearance site, which local residents have described as "being like Beirut".

Paul Abbott, acting head of Housing and Public Protection for the council, said: "CPO (compulsory purchase order) was always a last resort for us because we knew it would be a long and complex process, but we were unable to acquire the last eight properties by voluntary means and were therefore left with no alternative.

"However, things are moving behind the scenes and it's good news that a date has been set for a public inquiry so that the matter can be settled once and for all."

The inquiry will start on Tuesday, May 25, starting at 10am, and is expected to last for up to three days. It will be held in the council chamber at East Riding Council's offices on Church Street in Goole.