Plans to replace York care home with 36 houses lodged
The plans would see the empty former care home knocked down
Plans to demolish an empty former York care home to make way for a new affordable housing development have been lodged.
York Council’s application would see Willow House, in Long Lane Close near Walmgate, knocked down along with four garages and a storage building ahead of forthcoming plans for 36 homes.
The application stated removing the buildings would have a postive impact on the setting of York’s walls and other historic features while also allowing the housing development to progress.
It follows council engagement and consultation efforts with stakeholders including existing residents about the Willow House development.
The scheme forms part of a wider masterplan for the area south of Walmgate, between it and the city walls.
Plans for the new homes are set to be lodged in the spring and work on them would start in autumn if the application is approved.
The development is set to be made up of one and two-bedroom social rent and shared ownership homes designed to environmentally-friendly Passivehaus standards.
Those plans are seperate to those lodged for the demolition which the council hopes to do ahead of a decision on the homes.
The two-storey mid-20th Century care home is currently vacant and in a poor state of repair.
Community archaeological digs have taken place at the site ahead of the submission of the plans.
Other projects proposed as part of the wider South Walmgate Masterplan include improvements to Hope Street and Albert Street, planting on wall ramparts and a communal garden scheme.
Some pedestrian through routes could also be closed off and there are also proposals for a heritage trail, along with improvements to Walmgate Parade.
Money has potentially been found for some of the projects but others currently lack funding, according a report from architects Mikhail Riches on the plans.
Plans for the demolition of Willow House stated it currently had the appearance of being imposed on an area featuring a number of historic buildings.
They added demolishing it would improve views of York including the Minster from the stretch of walls that Willow House backs on to.
Plans stated: “The right-angled, convoluted layout of Willow House does not conform to the curvature and angles of the cityscape in this location, which are dictated by the shape of the city wall and its embankment.
“The garage blocks proposed for demolition and the car park areas associated with them are also elements that detract from the conservation area.
“Their single storey form and flat roofs are alien to the streetscene and to the city roofscape visible from the walls.
“The proposal will result in enhancement of the York Central Historic Core Conservation Area due to improved appearance, removal of uncharacteristic buildings and roofscapes, restoring the line of visibility towards Walmgate, which is presently closed off by Willow House.”