York nods through 380 homes

PJ Livesey’s redevelopment of The Retreat, Persimmon’s 160-strong Hull Road and the council’s own plans at Ordnance Lane have all been greenlit.

All three projects were recommended for approval, and were rubber-stamped at committee on 1 August.

The Retreat

Heritage specialist PJ Livesey secured the go-ahead for 120 homes at the listed, 18th-century former mental health hospital on Heslington Road.

The plans will see the facility converted, with further new homes built in the grounds, with communal facilities including a recreation hall and a heritage walk.

Previously closed off to the public, the historic park and gardens will be restored and opened up for local people.

Founded in 1796 by the Quakers, the Retreat provided pioneering psychiatric care to the community for 220 years before the main buildings closed in 2018. It was the first hospital that focused on the ‘moral treatment’ of patients and the importance of the environment to support recovery and wellbeing.

Georgina Lynch, managing director, PJ Livesey said: “Our plans will give a new lease of life to these stunning buildings that are steeped in history. Our vision for The Retreat plays homage to its heritage with the development designed to create spaces for wellness and tranquillity both within the spacious homes and the surrounding gardens.”

The PJ Livesey Group has worked closely with Historic England to ensure the plans are sensitive to the historic significance of the site. Work is expected to start on site in early 2025 with the first homes available in 2026.

Hull Road

Unanimous consent was given to York-headquartered Persimmon for 162 homes, with 49 to either be transferred to a local housing association or sold at a first-time buyer discount of 30% to 40%.

The site is allocated for housing in the York Local Plan and was recommended for approval by the council’s planning team.

All homes will feature electric vehicle chargers and air-source heat pumps, and will be gas-free with a biodiversity net gain of 69% through a combination of on-site enhancements and off-site woodland planting.

Properties will range from one to four bedrooms, with a period of exclusivity for local buyers.

Persimmon said that £1.45m will be provided for local education, the largest part of contributions linked to the scheme.

Joel Frank, land director at Persimmon Yorkshire, said: “This development will provide a range of house types for young people, families and downsizers alike with excellent access to local amenities.

“We all know the difficulties local people, particularly families have faced to get on the property ladder in the city, so we’re pleased to be playing our role in delivering new homes for the people of York.”

Ordnance Lane

City of York Council is the promoter for Ordnance Lane, with designs from Mikhail Riches, riding a wave currently with a shortlisting for the 2024 Stirling Prize for Architecture, for its work at Park Hill Sheffield.

The scheme, between Hospital Fields Road and Ordnance Lane, will bring 101 affordable homes in a project scaled up from 85 homes.

Key advisors include Tibbalds Planning & Urban Design, Turner & Townsend, Civic Engineers, Simply CDM, Green Gauge, BBUK, Imagine Places and Warm.

The project combines the redevelopment of the Married Quarters building and new-builds, with around half the homes to be two-bedroom. The new-builds will be built to Passivhaus standard.

The Ordnance Lane scheme is now 100% affordable. Credit: planning documents