Community centre plans scaled back

Ambitious improvement plans for the Poppleton Commuuty centre are being scaled back because of lack of funding issues.

A more modest planning application has been submited tot he York Council. An accompanying statement says

“Following the successful Full Plans Application approval detailed in 23/00742/FUL, 6th July 2023, the committee of the Poppleton Community Centre have elected to make variations to the design approach which are covered in this application.

Due to changing factors in obtaining adequate finance for the original proposal, the design has been scaled back to provide a more cost-effective means of delivering a plan that would be of benefit to the running and eventual improvement of the centre.

The revised design continues to deliver additional function room space which the centre is in need of, whilst retaining some character of the original proposal, namely in its materiality. The redesign focuses solely on a ground floor plan, omitting the interventions at first floor level.

This single storey approach results in a design which has taken on a more modest appearance, filling in a portion of the existing site that serves little purpose to the centres existing use”.

Earlier 15th May 2023

Poppleton Community Centre expansion plans

The Poppleton Community Centre is seeking planning permission to construct a one and two storey side extension, external alterations to existing building and creation of additional car and cycle parking provision

The applicant says, “

Constructed in the 90’s, the community centre building offers a wide range of facilities which include an internal sports hall, functions rooms, kitchen, changing and showering rooms and a lounge & bar.Since its completion, a conservatory structure which faces the tennis courts has been added to provide a home to the resident tennis club and additional seating for the lounge”

There has been a clear increase in the requirement for function rooms withing the community centre, pressure from individual bookings and repeat clients such as the resident dance troupe which require a more suitable venue have indicated the need for the community centre to grow. In addition to this need, the café has also seen an increase in popularity and expressed an interest in increasing its capacity.

With increased use of the building, comes increased opportunity for the café to take advantage of the footfall”

The proposals involve bringing into use space contained within the existing roof.

More details can be viewed by clicking here

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£750,000 funding secured to “extend and improve” Acomb Explore Library.

Big let down for Acomb residents who were promised much more

According to the Council, £250,000 has been secured to add to the Council’s committed £500,000 capital investment to extend and redevelop Acomb Explore Library.

“The additional £250k is the result of a successful application to the Arts Council’s Libraries Improvement Fund.

It will support significant upgrades to the popular library learning centre in Acomb to ensure it continues to be an important asset to the people of Acomb.

This building project will help to boost access to the library learning centre’s many valued and important services, and will maximise longer-term opportunities for Explore to generate income.

In partnership with Explore, the whole library will be fully refurbished and extended. Following a consultation with the local community back in March 2023, the following improvements will be made:

• a larger children’s library to extend the cultural offer for families and children
• enlarging the café area for more people to sit, meet and relax while enjoying a drink or a slice of cake
• quiet spaces for anyone who need to work or study
• improved toilets including an extra accessible toilet to add to the existing Changing Places facility
• improving meeting rooms and an IT suite to support adult learning in literacy and IT to help get more adults online.
• an area for community outdoor events
• moveable shelving to allow for performances spaces to build on high quality shows already staged at Acomb Explore.

“Full details will be brought to the Council’s Executive for approval later this year”.

Jenny Layfield, Chief Executive of York Explore, said: 

It is great news that City of York Council has been successful in its bid for Libraries Improvement Funding (LIF) which will enable further capital improvements to the Acomb Explore Library. LIF’s support underlines Explore’s track record in developing York’s library services so successfully over many years.

“We have now entered a period of formal confidential contract negotiations with City of York Council over the delivery of library services across York and are therefore not able to comment further at this time.”

Derelict land to rear of the library which was to have been part of an expansion site

NB. The budget of £3/4 million is still substantially less than the £2 million which was allocated by the Council to the project 3 years ago.

That funding was gradually whittled down by the Council which chose to invest in facilities located on the east of the City.

The original scheme, developed as long as 15 years ago, involved extending the library into a “one stop shop” providing access to a range of public and voluntary sector resources.

Land to the rear of the library car park (right) was purchased in order to facilitate the project but it thas remained derelict and unused during the intevening 15 year period.

Strensall army camp to remain open – shock announcement

The MOD has announced its intention, not only to retain the use of the army camp at Strensall. but also to extend the occupation of the facility.

A planning inquiry had previously been told that the camp would close and that the MOD wanted to obtain planning permission to build homes on the site.

Now that has all changed

The full text of the letter notifying the planning inquiry of the change in policy says,

We write to inform you that the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme has received approval from the Minister for Defence Procurement (MinDP) to retain Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) and Towthorpe Lines at Strensall.

As you will be aware these sites were due for disposal in 2024 in line with plans to optimise the Defence Estate and had proposed allocations at submission stage of the Local Plan (dated February 2018) ST35 and H59 for a combined total of 545 homes at QEB and Site E18: Towthorpe Lines, Strensall for 13,200sqm employment floorspace. You will recall detailed discussions around QEB throughout the Local Plan examination. However, following extensive assessment of alternative locations for the Units, the Army’s preferred option is to remain in Strensall; therefore following MinDP’s approval, the sites will no longer be sold. QEB and Towthorpe Lines will remain home to 21 Multi-Role Medical Regiment (MMR), who will be joined by 22 MMR, both supporting the deployed force. DIOs position on these two sites has therefore materially changed and it is therefore important to draw this to your attention with immediate effect.

The retention of Army Barracks in Strensall reinforces consolidation of specialist medical capability. The co-location of Multi-Role Medical Regiments will improve training and coherence for medical personnel preparing to deploy on operations to support the Army around the world. The decision to retain QEB and Towthorpe Lines also demonstrates the Ministry of Defence’s continued commitment to supporting military outputs in Yorkshire, by
establishing a Brigade-sized group within an existing Defence footprint in the greater York area.

The addition of a further regiment at Strensall will require considerable investment and development activities at the site to enhance defence output. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) will be undertaking pre-application discussions with the City of York Council (CYC) in preparation for planning submissions in the near future.

The Inspectors will be aware of DIO’s extensive representations throughout the examination process and substantive arguments particularly in regard to the Green Belt boundary and the sites relationship with the Strensall Common Special Area of Conservation and on the Habitat Regulations Assessments.

Whilst MOD’s stance on QEB and Towthorpe Lines has changed, importantly the following points set out in writing and orally in relation to Phase 3 Matter 5 of the Examination remain valid and relevant to your considerations of the soundness of the York Local Plan:

*the correct approach that should be undertaken in regard to the Green Belt boundary around ST35 and H59. Regardless of the use of the site, our representations to inform the fixing of the Green Belt Boundaries around Strensall and QEB remain relevant.

*our fundamental objection to the addition of policy GI2a, as it is not required to make the Plan sound and arguably not required for compliance with the Habitat Regulations.

In addition, in the light of the decision that has been taken to retain QEB and Towthorpe Lines, their importance operationally, and the investment that is to be made in these sites going forward to increase the MoDs operational output, it is important, in line with paragraph 164 of the 2012 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and paragraph 101 of the 2023 NPPF, that policies in the Local Plan recognise and support development required for operational defence and security purposes, and ensure that these operational sites are not affected adversely by the impact of other development proposed in the area.”

Letter from MOD 22nd March 2024

The letter to the planng inspectors goes on to say that the MOD remains committed to the disposal of Imphal Barracks and note that the emerging local plan seeks to secure a future use for the site following the vacation of the Army and is fully supportive of a proposed allocation at ST36 for residential development of up to 769 dwellings, in line with our representations on this site, throughout the Examination in Public process to date.

There had been controversy about the MODs plans to build houses on the vacated base at Strensall.

No alloction was included in the Draft Local Plan so the MODs change of heart will have little direct impact on other aspects of the proposals.

Council set to turn down Designer Outlet expansion plans.

A meeting next week is being recommended to turn down an application by the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet to use a field next to their centre as an overspill car park.

The application site is a parcel of land approximately 1.1 hectares in size. It is located to the south of the Designer Outlet shopping complex and can be accessed from the existing Designer Outlet perimeter road via an existing vehicular access.

 The Site is primarily an undeveloped green field. A small section of the site currently contains storage containers and is being used to store rubble and building products.

The Site is bound to the east, south and west by undeveloped green fields. To the north of the Site is a mature tree belt, which sits between the Site and the Designer Outlet perimeter road. Fulford Community Orchard is located within this tree belt to the north-east of the Site. A single track road runs along the south of the Site which provides access to a farmstead.

The application states that the proposed development is required to address parking problems at the Designer Outlet, particularly in the run-up to and over the Christmas period.

 The application states that there are currently approximately 2700 car parking spaces at the Designer Outlet. The Designer Outlet employs approximately 1,200 employees, albeit approximately 600 employees are on-site at any one time. At busier periods, such as Christmas and Bank Holidays, the number of employees can rise to 800 – 900 which increases the demand for car parking spaces. The application states that whilst many employees are encouraged to travel via public transport and do so, many members of staff have to travel to the Designer Outlet by car, particularly over the Christmas period when shift work is the norm.

As well as the shopping and food offer, the Designer Outlet hosts the Winter Wonderland, Ice Rink and Summer Beach attraction. These attractions are often located on some of the existing car park, reducing the number of car parking spaces available. These attractions also create the need for additional employees.

The application states that approximately 200-500 of the car parking spaces at the Designer Outlet are occupied by people using the Park and Ride facility. Many of them are commuters and therefore the spaces are occupied by a single vehicle for the majority of the day.

The applicant is proposing a temporary change of use of the Site from agriculture to a car park for the staff working at the Designer Outlet. The temporary car park would measure approximately 72 metres by 78 metres.

The applicant proposes that the Site would be used as a temporary car park initially for a period of 3 years to gauge effectiveness between mid-October (in advance of the School half term holidays) and mid-January. It is proposed that the car park would be open between 16th November 2023 and 9th January 2024 inclusive of setting up and dismantling.

. It is proposed to provide 210 additional car parking spaces, exclusively for staff use, on the Site. It is proposed that metal track matting would be installed on the surface of the Site. A barrier controlling access in and out of the car park is proposed. Lighting towers are also proposed to be erected. It is proposed that lighting would be directional/inward facing and would be switched off at 10:00pm Monday – Saturday and 8pm on Sundays.

The planning report, in recommending rejection of the plans, highlights issues with the Green Belt, landscape character and highway access

In some ways, the Designer Outlet is a victim of its own success. It may become even more so if Labour go ahead with their threat to close the Castle car park; an action which could force drivers to increase their use of out-of-town facilities. The future of the park-and-ride parking spaces may then become an issue.

A separate planning application (ref 19/01969/FULM) for the permanent expansion of the Designer Centre has been outstanding for four years. This proposal, which is currently held up by Highways England, involves the relocation of the existing Park & Ride facility and outdoor events space, the creation of new retail car parking and associated landscaping Full details can be viewed by clicking here

Pike Hills Golf Course expansion plans set to be approved

The proposal envisages the importation of material to reprofile the landscape and improve the utility of the golf course. There would be no built structures beyond the temporary construction site compound as such.

Significant areas of tree and other landscape planting are proposed to ensure that the works blend into the surrounding landscape.

There would be some short-term detrimental impact upon the local landscape character as the proposed landscape planting is maturing and the ground re-profiling works appear raw. This would be particularly noticeable in views from the public right of way to the north and in longer distance glimpsed views from the path network in the Bog to the east and southeast.

The application site comprises a 2.3-hectare (playing area) parkland golf course with substantial landscaped areas established in 1946 with 800 members with a separate practice area and club house. Planning permission has been given twice in the past twenty years for a substantial extension to the northwest to provide an additional three holes and also to improve the practice area.

These permissions have not however been implemented notwithstanding an approval of details required to be discharged by condition in 2017.

The site lies directly adjacent to the Askham Bog SSSI and designated Ancient Woodland and it partially drains into the Bog. The underlying drift geology is largely impermeable which creates significant issues of waterlogging at particular times of year leading to significant sections of the course particularly to the north and east becoming unplayable for long periods.

The proposal seeks to fully implement the development of the previously approved extension to the north and northwest. At the same time holes 9 to 18 would be remodelled. 352,000 metres of soils would be brought in to undertake wider landscape reprofiling with new areas of woodland planting to the north and west and new waterbodies to assist in maintaining stable surface water drainage as
well as providing wetland habitat.

The development would take place in four phases with the majority of work being undertaken in the second and third phases. The existing vehicular access to the site is via the A64 and dates from shortly after the establishment of the Club. It is sub-standard in terms of its width, gradient and proximity to the principal road when seen against Modern standards.

A temporary access for the construction operation is envisaged from the A1237 Outer Ring Road to the northwest with traffic entering and leaving from the southbound carriageway which has the clearest visibility.

The application site is presently accessed via the A64 by means of an access which dates from the establishment of the Club in the late 1940s and which falls significantly below modern standards in terms of its width configuration and gradient and is unsuitable for the reception of HGVs. A temporary construction site access is therefore envisaged taking traffic from the A1237 to the northwest for each phase of the development.

The proposal seeks to remedy existing difficulties in terms of provision of facilities and the quality of surface water drainage at the existing golf course by building upon an earlier consent from 2014 which has not been fully implemented.

This involves the full implementation of the previously approved extension and the importation of approximately 350,000 cubic metres of inert soils which together with new landscape planting would re-profile the existing playing surface.

The report to next weeks planning comittee concludes:

“The proposed development would not be inappropriate in Green Belt terms. If conditioned in detail
as part of any planning permission the proposed construction site access from the A1237 is felt to be appropriate. The submitted details within the EIA and supplementary information demonstrate that the biodiversity value and hydrology of the adjacent SSSI and Ancient Woodland can be safeguarded. Notwithstanding short-term harm it is felt that the impact of the proposal upon the landscape and
visual character of the wider area once the new tree planting is mature would be acceptable. It is felt that the requirements of paragraphs 180a) and b) of the NPPF in respect of development and areas of biodiversity value would be complied with”.

York University expansion project

The project brief was to provide a new Interdisciplinary Facility for Indoor Air Quality and Health to reflect the research.
The scheme will include the design of two identical residential properties, each of circa 81m², one of which is to be built to Passivhaus standards and the other to be to current UK Building Regulations standards.
Both properties will be linked by a central single-storey laboratory facility to better understand how the air tightness and thermal performance of building impact the quality of indoor air.

Details of her planning application can be read by clicking here

Tennis clubhouse expansion plans at Poppleton

Poppleton Community Centre want to construct a single storey detached tennis clubhouse, two padel courts and two petanque rinks.

Five additional parking spaces are proposed together with improved permeable paving paths and seating areas for access and spectating

The site is accessed via Main Street to the east, with a drive leading to a car park towards the
western edge of the site. The vast majority of the site remains open, with the predominant structure
being the community centre itself, along with the bowls club adjacent to Main Street.

Subdivision of the open areas, such as the delineation between tennis courts, bowls green, foot paths and play park is created with tall hedgerows and low-level fencing, with high perimeter fences to the tennis courts.

Constructed in the 90’s, the community centre building offers a wide range of facilities which include
an internal sports hall, functions rooms, kitchen, changing and showering rooms and a lounge & bar.
Since its completion, a conservatory structure which faces the tennis courts has been added to
provide a home to the resident tennis club and additional seating for the lounge.

More information about the plannig application can be found via this link

Padel‘s an innovative form of tennis which exponents claim is fun, easy to learn and extremely sociable. Played on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court, groups of mixed ages and abilities can play together.

Pétanque is a French game that originated in Provence in 1907, where players throw metal balls (boules) towards a target ball

 It is one of the boules sports that have ancient roots in Greece and Rome. 

It can be played for leisure or competitively, with different strategies like shooting to knock away the opponent’s boules³

No consultation on Acomb Library upgrade plans

We reported a few weeks ago that Council owned land to the rear of Acomb Library – and which had been hijacked for use as a building compound – was now available once again  for its original purpose.

The and had been purchased by the Council over 10 years ago to establish a “one stop shop” for public services as part of a plan to expand the library site. The need for a local Council base became more urgent when the Acomb Housing Office was subsequently closed in 2013.

Nothing much happened on the site until the new Liberal Democrat led Council announced a plan to invest £4 million in the library sites at Acomb and Clifton. That was two years ago. Things once again have fallen silent in the interim.

It appears though, from a progress report being considered by the Council next week, that plans for the site have already been drawn up.

York Council Acomb Library expansion update report April 2021

No public consultation has taken place and the Front Street survey – which ended a few days ago – failed to offer any options for the library site.

The original aspiration was for housing estate managers, the police, the NHS and neighbourhood workers to have a base at the new building. It remains to be seen whether this concept will be pursued.

In the interim the Council has constructed a new small housing office as part of the Lincoln Court redevelopment.

The land to the rear of Chancery Court (not Council owned) would have been landscaped as part of the project.

It was hoped that many more residents would make use of the Front Street facility as a result of the new investment. It would become a natural “hub” for the local community.

Apparently, the early plans for the site have been costed at £3 million. They are currently being scaled back to something “more affordable”.

The recently opened new library at Burnholme cost £4.6 million.

The Council needs to engage with potential users of facilities like these before plans are firmed up.

Way open for Acomb Library expansion

The development to the rear of the Acomb Library (Bowling Lane) is almost complete with most of the homes now occupied.

The Council owned site, currently being used as a builders yard, will shortly close opening the way for a start to be made on the long awaited upgrade to the Acomb Library.

The Council has a budget of £2 million allocated in each of the next two years (starting on 1/4/21) to provide “Centres of Learning and Opportunity for all” at Acomb & Clifton libraries.

Plans to provide a “one stop shop” for public services at Acomb Explore date back over a decade and the land to the rear of South View Terrace was purchased by the Council (from a local builder) with the intention of improving the whole area.

Sadly, that intention stalled, and the land became overgrown.  It was a major missed regeneration opportunity.

The “Lockdown” period has provided Council officials with adequate time to refined their proposals for the site and we expect to see public consultation starting shortly.

We do not want building activity in the area to continue for longer than is essential, so some drive and enthusiasm is now required.

The publication of a draft development timetable would be a good start.

Libraries in York – another report

The Council will be discussing another report on the future of library buildings in York next week.  There is little new in the document.

Acomb Library

We have seen a decade of agonising about the service which has been run for several years by an independent – not for profit – social interest organisation. They recently won the right to run the library service for a further 15 years.

Whether staff moral has held up in the face of Council indecisiveness in recent years may be open to question.

Compared to other areas, York has a relative successful library service. It has not slipped into the “basket case” situation seen recently with several other public services in the City.

Usage levels have been stable, no libraries have been closed, new libraries have been established at Burnholme, New Earswick and the soon to be opened (probably) Community Stadium. The Reading Café in Rowntree park is successful and an overhaul of the Central Library and Archives has been completed.

The library service has recognised that it needs to be more than a book lending service. Some have styled themselves as learning or “explore” centres. Some have opened cafes. Several have established “Friends of” groups.

Derelict expansion site behind Acomb Explore Library 2017

But progress in west York has been slow.

In 2008 the Council identified the need to expand the Acomb Library. It had had a modest extension to the front, but other parts of the building were aging. The Council decided to acquire land to the rear to facilitate expansion. The idea was that a “one stop shop” should be established with staff moving in from the then nearby “Acomb Office”. Officials were told to buy the bowling club land but failed to push a deal though. The bowling club was latter to be sold to a private housing developer. The Council land is now part of a building compound.

The expansion plans were jettisoned by a new administration when it took office in 2011.

Since then the staff from the Acomb (housing) Office have been centralised into West Offices. There has been no significant investment in the library building. The acquired land became an overgrown eyesore.

About two years ago an opportunity arose to rationalise the site by  incorporating the library, bowling club and extension land into one redevelopment plan.

The Council failed to act. As a result, expansion options have been compromised.

The latest report confirms a £4 million budget for improvements to the libraries in Acomb and Clifton. This was first announced 4 months ago. The report says that the use of this investment is aimed at “reducing running costs”.

The report talks of identifying “co-location partners”

It will be mid 2021 at the earliest before residents will see any building work taking place at the Acomb Explore site.

Acomb Explore events noticeboard 14th October. Needs updating

So for the next 4 years west York will no doubt be expected to muddle through

The report confirms that “the 15-year Library Contract sets out the requirement for Explore (the operators) to co-locate all the Gateway libraries by 31 March 2027”.

This could have significant implications for smaller libraries such as that at Dringhouses.