York council resubmits Green Belt boundaries to Government and hopes for Local Plan progress

The draft Local Plan sets out where and what types of development can take place in York for the next 20 years.

In June last year The Yorkshire Post reported how the authority may be forced to withdraw its plan from examination because of concerns about “intrinsic flaws” in the methodology used to decide the area which should be designated as protected Green Belt land.

Government inspectors had asked the council for extra information about housing numbers, the Green Belt and impact on important wildlife sites.

Believing it has addressed the major concerns, the council has now submitted the only outstanding piece of work - an updated Green Belt Topic Paper Addendum - to clarify the origins and definitions of the boundaries.

And in a letter to the inspectors, the council has reiterated that withdrawal of the draft plan “would not be in the best interests of York and its residents, due to further cost and delay”.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Performance, said:

“This has been an exceptionally challenging year. I would like to thank the council's planning officers and government inspectors who've managed to progress this plan despite difficult circumstances.

"We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate how our draft plan ensures that York gets the housing and jobs residents need, whilst at the same time, protecting the city's unique character, green belt and natural beauty.

"York’s Green Belt boundaries have never formally been defined and this was always going to be an area of significant interest locally and nationally. Through the iteration of the plan, members from all parties have contributed to this process and we believe the current submission provides the detailed evidence of how we have sought to achieve this.

"We've made it clear that we strongly feel that starting the lengthy and costly Local Plan process again is quite simply, the wrong thing to do; for York’s residents, for a sustainable recovery from the pandemic and, of course, for the city's green belt.

"With these recent submissions, we have real momentum and hope to work with the inspectors to take this plan forward."

If the revisions are accepted, it would mean the plan progressing to its next stage, which could include further public consultation over the new information.

The council was one of two in Yorkshire to be warned in 2018 by then-Communities Secretary Sajid Javid over its “persistent failure” to finalise a Local Plan.