City sets out how green belt drawn up

YORK Council has explained how it defines green belt land ahead of an examination of its Local Plan by a planning inspector.

A senior councillor said it was good news for its bid to draw up a plan that would give the city the housing and jobs it needs.

York Council submitted the explanation of how it defines the outer boundary of the green belt, with explanations of other green belt boundaries set to follow.

Officers also issued the timetable to deliver all the remaining additional information requested by Government inspectors by the end of April.

Having received the bulk of this information in December and January, inspectors have previously indicated that the examination is likely to progress to online consultation over the new information, followed by further hearing sessions, most likely to be held in summer at the earliest.

The council has published the submitted evidence on its key decisions page, which will be added to the latest correspondence on the examinations webpage www. york.gov.uk/localplanexamination shortly.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, executive member for finance and performance, said: “This is more good news for our ambition to secure a Local Plan which gives York the housing and jobs our city needs, whilst at the same time protects York’s unique character, green belt and natural beauty.

“The exceptional challenges of the last year have continued into 2021, and I would like to once again thank the council’s planning officers and government inspectors who’ve managed to progress this plan despite difficult circumstances.”

He said the draft Local Plan sets out where and what types of development can take place in York for the next 20 years. Defining a green belt, where protection limits development, is a vital part of the proposed plan for York and guaranteeing the city’s unique identity.