Plan for an extra 21 apartments at major residential scheme

A developer which won permission to build 258 flats at York’s former Nestlé factory wants to build an additional 21 apartments on the 7.9 hectare site.

York City Council has received an application from Clarion to increase the number of apartments from 258 to 279, alter the mix of dwellings, make changes to the external appearance of the building and amend parking and landscaping.

The development, in Haxby Road is called Cocoa Works, and also includes plans for a convenience store, vehicle access and cycle storage.

The original planning permission in 2017 was for the conversion of existing buildings to provide 258 one, two and three-bedroom flats, 34 of which would be contained within a single storey roof top extension.

35 of the flats would have been one-bed apartments, but Clarion now wants 118 of these instead.

Planning agents O’Neill Associates have said that while some enabling works have taken place, the main development has “stalled” while Clarion carries out a review of what has been approved so far.

The agents’ planning statement explains: “The revised scheme proposes a higher number of units overall, at 279, and
also incorporates a greater proportion of one-bed apartments.

“The proposed mix is: 118 one-bed flats; 146 two-bed flats; and 15 three-bed flats.

“The section 106 agreement attached to the original consent includes a requirement for five of the proposed units to be affordable housing – three of which should be social rented with two offered for discounted sale – or the equivalent commuted sum.

“Whereas an additional 21 units are proposed in the revised scheme, the affordable housing requirement remains at five units, due to the way in which empty building credit is calculated.

“Nevertheless, Clarion is proposing an alternative model of affordable housing whereby 84 of the new flats (30%) will be offered for shared ownership.

“These will be distributed through the lower floors of the building and comprise 28 one-bed units and 56 two-beds.”

The statement outlines intended changes to the appearance of the proposed roof top extension and the rear elevation of the building.

And the revised scheme asks for “modest” changes to car parking provision, proposing one extra parking space at the rear of the building – taking the total to 177 – and extending the railing on Haxby Road so it runs along the northern boundary of the site.

The agents add: “The shift from a development of 258 units to 279 is considered to be a positive step and represents a more efficient use of the existing building.

“It will also deliver a more balanced housing mix, with the previous scheme having been heavily weighted towards the provision of two-bed homes.”

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