DEVELOPERS have been given the go-ahead for a £4.4 million housing development in York.

Cala Homes (Yorkshire) has won detailed planning permission from City of York Council, to build on the site of the former Lidgett Grove School in Wheatlands Grove, Acomb.

The firm will build 19 two, three and four-bedroom family houses on the one-acre site, which will become known as Churchgate. Houses are expected to be ready for occupation later this year.

Chris Adams, land director of Cala Homes (Yorkshire), said: "Acomb is well situated on the A1237, the outer York ring road, with easy access into the city as well as for commuting to the major business centres of West Yorkshire. York remains a most sought-after location for family buyers.

"We were pleased to be able to demonstrate to the planners the strength and quality of design of our new houses.

"We were also able to maximise the value of the land which we acquire from the owners because we have built such a successful brand at Cala, on the back of our architect-designed new homes in prime locations, record breaking customer service and thorough community consultation programmes." Last year, The Press reported City of York Council had sold the old school site to Cala - but did not get all the proceeds.

A 46-year-old covenant meant an eighth of the money went to the Methodist Church that owned the site previously.

The trustees of Lidgett Grove Methodist Church sold the site to York's civic chiefs in 1961, at which time it was specified that the site should never be used for housing.

Following negotiations, the Methodist Church agreed to waive the covenant in return for 12.5 per cent of the sale price, minus marketing and demolition costs.

Lidgett Grove School closed in 2004, as part of a wider shake-up of education services for children in York with special needs.

Cala avoided the council's current strict affordable housing rules, which say half of all developments of 15 or more home must be affordable. The developer obtained outline approval before that rule was introduced. It plans to build 16 two-storey houses and three three-storey ones.