Derwenthorpe
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Derwenthorpe is a controversial housing development planned to be built in the edge of York, England. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation have submitted plans to build 500 homes on land west of Metcalf Lane. The development was originally to be called New Osbaldwick but was changed to be named after the Derwent Valley Light Railway that used to run along the site.[1]
The site is located between the villages of Osbaldwick, Heworth and Tang Hall. The fields used to belong to York City Council but they sold them to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. A Sustrans cycle track currently runs through the middle of the site. It starts at Osbaldwick and goes through past Tang Hall, Heworth, through the city centre and ends near the Nestlé factory on Haxby Road. A disused National Grid substation is on the site as well as associated pylons. These would be buried underground if the development goes ahead. A house known as 'National Grid cottage' is on the site next to the disused substation. It will remain if the development goes ahead. Access to the site is either via Metcalf Lane which leads to Osbaldwick or the Sustrans cycle track.
The development will consist of 540 properties. Most of these will be afforable properties that could be rented out. Others will be high quality homes designed for first time buyers, disabled people and elderly people. The layout is designed to be friendly to pedestrians with wide footpaths and specific Home Zones where cars have limited access. The development will encourage residents to be part of the community using new community facilities.
The development has been heavily criticised by local residents surrounding the site and the local parish council. They have made several arguments against the development. They believe that the area will be damaged by house building. The site is known to have hedgerows with many different creatures living in them. The site contains many open fields that are filled with wild flowers in the summer. It provides an essential 'breathing space' for local residents.[2] If building on the site goes ahead, their properties will be prone to flooding as the water will have nowhere to go. The excess traffic will cause a nuisance to them. This is true as the site is landlocked and the only access is by roads already in place around the site. The area is popular with dog walkers. If the site were built on, they would have nowhere to walk their dogs.
A public inquiry was conducted, upon which the development was referred to the Communities and Local Government department for approval. The development was given the go-ahead in May 2007.[3]
