Swan Properties’ plan for apartments on Hempland Lane was rejected by City of York Council due to design and size concerns.
Swan Properties thought their plan was good. They said the apartments would be high quality and believed the design fit the area’s style. These details came from the application papers.
However, Council officials did not agree with the proposed design. They thought the buildings would look bad and believed the plan used too much space, which would be harmful to the area.
The plan included demolishing a bungalow on the 1,380 square meter site. They wanted nine apartments in two buildings, with two one-bed flats, five two-bed, and two three-bed flats.
The site borders Hempland Lane Wildlife Area, near over 100 allotment plots. The council had issues with where the building was located.
Council officers explained their decision, stating the buildings were too big. The size and shape did not suit the suburb, and the council said the plan would harm the area’s look.
The buildings would be too near the woods, harming the woodland’s character. It could cause problems with the existing trees and cycle storage was also insufficient, with the plans not offering enough of it.
Swan Properties can appeal this decision to the secretary of state. More information is available online; the application number is 24/02266/FUL.