‘Garden-grabbing’ bungalow homes plan for Heworth turned down

A City of York Council planning committee has rejected proposals to knock down a house in Whitby Drive, in the Heworth Without ward, after claiming it was “garden-grabbing” and could harm local wildlife.

Local opposition to the scheme led to Nigel Ayre, who is standing for re-election for the Liberal Democrats in the ward, referring the plans to the committee. He said the outcome was “a great result for local people” and would help maintain the character of the street.

He said: “Whitby Drive currently has no two-storey properties and building these in place of a bungalow would have resulted in a loss of privacy. I’m pleased to have been able to help.”

Local resident Alison Gray, who objected to the plan, said: “The size and density of this development would have been at complete odds with the community’s character.”