York has adopted it’s first local plan in almost 70 years in hopes of building thousands of new houses in an appropriate and planned way.

City of York Council agreed at the meeting on the 27th of February to approve the draft Local Plan.

The draft Local Plan is a city wide scheme that assists with expansion control in York and sets out opportunities and policies for building.

The development of 20,000 houses, 4,000 of them being affordable housing, is set to be built until 2038, which is 822 new homes a year.

During the meeting, Leader of the Council and Labour group Cllr Claire Douglas said: “This is a historic day in the development of our great city, bringing optimism and confidence that York will be developed in an appropriate and planned way over the lifetime of this local plan, increasing the housing, economic growth, green space and the infrastructure to support development that a city and it’s people so desperately need.”

The protection and safeguarding of York’s historical infrastructure and character will be put in place throughout the building of these homes.

Cllr Michael Pavlovic, the City of York Council’s housing spokesperson, assured people before the meeting took place that the plan would protect the green belt and would grant more homes and economic benefits if it was accepted.

The draft Local Plan has been in the works since 2018 under the Council’s then Conservative and Liberal Democratic alliance administration and provides the basis for determining planning applications, allocates sites for house building and economic development, including areas for employment.

Furthermore, sustainable transport infrastructure will be improved, including bus routes, cycling paths and charging stations for electric vehicles.