James Alexander: Modern blueprint that will make an ancient city thrive

WHEN elected as leader of the council two years ago, my vision was of a successful York, with a growing economy and an increasing number of jobs so that our poorest residents can take up new opportunities, enter better paid work and increase their life chances. My vision is that of a city of aspiration.

However is impossible to talk about our progress and ambitions without addressing the approach we are planning to take on housing. The availability of affordable housing is a major issue for York and we have a homes crisis. We have one of the fastest growing populations in England and the cost of housing in York is now eight times higher than average earnings.

Leading cities all over the world are taking action to ensure that they have housing and infrastructure in place to suit the needs of the future. Only a fortnight ago, Thomas Menino, the Mayor of Boston, outlined the most ambitious housing plan in his city’s history to create 30,000 new homes by 2020. We need to take similar steps here to secure the long term success of our city.

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I want to ensure that young people who grew up in York do not have to move out of the area when they become adults simply because they cannot find an affordable home in the city.

I want to ensure that our local businesses benefit from the skills of those who graduate from our excellent universities who then stay in the city. I want to make sure that local businesses can attract the workforce that they require to grow and succeed. Many people of my generation gave up the dream of home ownership long ago, but for our children to be able to afford their own home tomorrow must remain a goal that we pursue today.

This is why I have recently published our ambitious Local Plan to build 22,000 new homes in the city. This plan is not just about homes it is about creating the right environment and infrastructure for York’s long term success as a city.

While successive governments tinker and don’t deliver on new homes, we will take the bold actions needed to secure homes and jobs for future generations.

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I make no apology for this. I call on those who oppose my administration’s plans to explain where the next generation will live? How they would resolve our homes crisis? Some say you should build the homes in your backyard. Well I would if I had one.

I know that many support what we are trying to do. Earlier this year, I welcomed the planning minister, Nick Boles, to the city to discuss how we kick start developing York Central. This will be the largest brownfield development in Europe and will provide much needed additional offices and homes close to the city centre. At our meeting, Nick Boles endorsed our approach to push for economic growth through an ambitious local plan. And he pressed upon me the moral argument for new homes.

However, I know that some are concerned that York’s local plan will change the city for the worse. They are concerned that the local plan is at odds with our commitment to protect the environment.

I cannot agree with this. York’s local plan provides a long term vision about how we are going to create the right environment for business, create the first defined green belt for York as well as providing protection for the heritage we value so much.

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This is the first consultation of its kind in the city’s recent history and I am looking forward to hearing views from residents and businesses. To not have a plan in place that is pro growth is to consign York to decline, to say to hardworking people who aspire that you have no chance and to allow uncontrolled development across the entire draft green belt. We will be responsible and deliver a credible local plan.

The answers to our problems are not always within the four walls of our new West Office building and people will not always agree with the approach we have decided to the take. It is only through an open and transparent dialogue that we can deliver the right services and support for the city to thrive.

I would like to finish on a personal note. I disagreed with the late Margaret Thatcher in almost everything she did. But her passing has allowed me to reflect on her leadership. She was resolute, she gave clarity and she had a vision. She was also not afraid to say when she disagreed with people. I would like to think I can take inspiration from her approach but in a different political direction.

Where Margaret Thatcher created the new right, my administration and I are playing our part in these tough times to create the new left. We will deliver the manifesto we were elected on, we do what we say we will do and we don’t shy away from the tough decisions this city needs. We are proud of York’s heritage but we are ambitious for its future.