York Judges choose preferred planning team for new community
Judges of the competition for a team of Masterplanners to develop land at Metcalfe Lane, Osbaldwick, York, have expressed a preference for the team led by PRP Architects. Negotiations will now take place between the Joseph Rowntree Foundation / the City of York Council and this team on the next stages of the new 53 acre housing development.
PRP’s Masterplan for 520 homes and valuable community facilities was preferred over the other three finalists (John Thompson Associates, EDAW and AIRE Design) after careful consideration yesterday by a panel of judges consisting of four City of York Councillors, four Trustees of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and four community representatives.
The proposed masterplan had been worked up over the previous 20 weeks, with considerable consultation with the surrounding communities. The judging committee took into account feedback from local people visiting the exhibition of the four proposals, over the last week, and was informed by the views of more than 650 local people as well as by professional opinion.
Features of the preferred entry that were considered particularly attractive by the judges:
- a visionary yet practical scheme;
- a sustainable development;
- large areas of open space.
The judges expressed views on a number of features which could be included in the final Plan:
- traffic calming in the streets surrounding the new development;
- an enhancement of the natural environment and wildlife habitat on the site;
- continued commitment to strong involvement of local people in the process.
The Council and the Foundation will now seek to agree the basis of a partnership that can take forward the development. If agreement is reached, the preferred masterplanning team will continue to work with the JRF, the Council and the local community representatives to refine its ideas and prepare detailed plans ready for submission to the local authority in order to seek planning permission.
The aim is for the planning application to be submitted by the autumn of this year with building works starting early in 2001.
Councillor Viv Kind, CoYC Chair of Housing, said:
“We’ve chosen a team which seems to understand York’s needs while bringing in new and challenging ideas. We are one step closer to the building of a model community for the 21st century.”
Sir Peter Barclay, Chair of the Foundation, added:
“We particularly want to take forward the working partnership which has developed with local people. We will be considering how best to maintain the involvement of the community over the decades ahead. Difficult decisions lie ahead on reconciling the need to balance the books with our hopes for a really innovative and exciting new community.”
