Derwenthorpe
Encyclopedia
Derwenthorpe is a controversial housing development planned to be built on 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.
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 affordable 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.
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. Work on the first phase and infrastructure began in late 2010.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is a British social policy research and development charity, that funds a UK-wide research and development programme. It seeks to understand the root causes of social problems, to identify ways of overcoming them, and to show how social needs can be met in practice...
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
Derwent Valley Light Railway
The Derwent Valley Light Railway was a privately-owned standard-gauge railway running from Layerthorpe on the outskirts of York to Cliffe Common near Selby in North Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1913, and closed in sections between 1965 and 1981...
that used to run along the site.
The site is located between the villages of Osbaldwick
Osbaldwick
Osbaldwick is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It has been in existence since at least the 11th century, and is now a conservation area. It is the burial place of the nun Mary Ward....
, Heworth
Heworth, York
Heworth is part of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England, about north-east of the centre. It is sometimes referred to as Heworth Village...
and Tang Hall
Tang Hall
Tang Hall is a suburban district of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. The name is derived from the Anglo Saxon Tang, which means the meeting place of two becks , and a Hall that stood on Fourth Avenue until the 1970s...
. The fields used to belong to York City Council but they sold them to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. A Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
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
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
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 affordable 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
Home zone
Home Zone is a term used in the United Kingdom for a residential street or group of streets that are designed primarily to meet the interests of the local community, whether they are on foot, cycling, or in a car, enabling the street to operate primarily as a space for social use...
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.
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
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
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. Work on the first phase and infrastructure began in late 2010.