Planning permission approval for the development of eight new football pitches and a clubhouse on grazing land near Askham Bar means that work can begin on these much needed sporting facilities by the end of summer.
The development will significantly increase the number of pitches in the south of the city and will provide a home for the Bishopthorpe White Rose Junior Football Club, whose several hundred players, boys and girls ages 5-19, have been searching for a home for years.
The site lies to the south east of 235 Tadcaster Road, straddling both sides of the York/Selby Sustrans cycle route. The council will add around 900m of new hedges, 400 trees and new wetland areas as part of the drainage system for the site.
Under the plans there will be no parking on the site, only an access road for servicing the clubhouse. The club has promised to promote the use of the cycle lane and bus routes, and has parking agreed in principle at the nearby Park and Ride site.
Cllr John Galvin, Bishopthorpe ward councillor and Conservative spokesperson for culture, leisure and tourism, said:
These football pitches will fill a gap here in the south of the city and demonstrates once again that our Conservative-led administration is keen to invest in opportunities for all York residents, especially young people, to get active and stay healthy.
“Bishopthorpe White Rose is a popular club, and I wish all their volunteers and players the best of luck as they build a new home.”
The council will start work preparing the site this summer, subject to the outcome of an application for a grant from the Football Foundation.