Landlord hopes for inquiry backing in demolition row

Alan Wilson and Westdale Services are the final private landlords resisting the proposals, which went before a public inquiry recently.

East Riding Council wants to knock down 117 terraced properties in the Phoenix Street and Richard Cooper Street area and build 59 houses – including 19 affordable houses – on the site.

The landlords argue that it would be more cost effective to renovate than rebuild.

They claim their scheme would see 115 homes go on the market, for between 65,000 and 95,000, without any additional Government funding, in contrast to the East Riding Council's scheme, which will need 2m Government money for demolition and result in far fewer homes.

Mr Wilson says further backing for their plans came from Prof Anne Power of the London School of Economics, whose recent report advocates reusing empty properties.

Mr Wilson said: "We have been backed by Save Britain's Heritage and the Empty Home Agency, both national bodies. The Government appear to be singing from the same hymn sheet. The only people who disagree are the local town council and the East Riding Council."

However East Riding Council rejected Mr Wilson's claims.

In a statement it said: "In the course of the inquiry, it became clear that the objectors' proposals had not been thoroughly costed, had no confirmed financial backing, had no planning permission, and were not aimed at meeting the wider needs of Goole as a community."