CITY of York Council insists that landowners and builders should provide affordable housing in private developments, but in the case of land it part-owns at Hallfield Road it intends to sell this off for yet another massive student block which will have no affordable contribution whatsoever.

Moreover, giving this planning permission on a council-owned site is a conflict of interest.

As part-owners the council could require as a condition of sale that any residential development is not limited to students (thereby avoiding affordable demands) but is mainstream housing available for anyone to occupy.

This would, however, mean affordable obligations apply and that would have a serious detrimental impact on the land value – hence the double standards clearly evident in this project.

It is also worrying that the council’s own planning officer is quoted as saying the student flats could easily be adapted afterwards for occupation by non-students. T

his sounds very much like the council circumventing its own affordable policies to obtain maximum land value for itself. The council should be leading by example. This is not what they should be doing.

Matthew Laverack, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.