Fulford Friends. Opposing Connaught Court Development.
“This website is regularly updated – if you wish to find out more about the revised plans, or need information on writing objection letters etc. please visit the relevant sections”.
At the heart of Fulford opposite the parish church, lies a beautiful parkland area within which is a residential home for the elderly who benefit from peaceful and secure grounds with wonderful views. Fulford residents can also enjoy the magnificent views through the trees towards the ings and the floodplain. The park supports lots of wildlife (inc. owls, pheasants, bats, voles, hedgehogs, ducks, squirrels, woodpeckers, rabbits and others too numerous to mention) and is one of Fulford’s last (and best!) green and open spaces, providing a substantial and valuable “green corridor” linking the main road to the floodplain.
It is bordered by conservation areas to the East and North and lies alongside Fulford Ings which is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna being a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).
A massive new development is proposed.
Please note that a revised application has now been submitted details in “news” section.
The land is owned by The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) who also manage the residential home which is available exclusively to elderly masons and their female dependants.
The RMBI now wish to sell off the land surrounding the home and have applied for outline permission to build 92 (now 84) flats and houses together with a new access road which will exit onto Main Street almost opposite the church. This will necessitate the demolition of a large part of the old boundary wall which lies within Fulford’s conservation area. They intend to demolish the semi-detached bungalows which nestle unobtrusively within the grounds and replace them with an apartment block which will be highly visible from Main Street. Three x 3 storey blocks of flats are planned to face the ings and ten large private houses will run from Fulford Park down and beside the floodplain. A further nine (two+three-storey) houses will be built adjacent to St Oswalds Road. The existing Fred Crossland House will be extended to provide a further six rooms, the bowling green will be re-located to the east, and of course there is provision for extensive car-parking.
What will this mean for Fulford?
- Destruction of an historic parkland at Fulford’s heart.
- Loss of a rare green corridor essential for air quality and wildlife.
- Destruction of more trees.
- Traffic overload – hundreds of extra car journeys every day.
- A new road junction necessitating the demolition of a large section of the old wall adjacent to the surgery.
- Hundreds of extra vehicles using St Oswalds Road which is one of Fulford’s most ancient and attractive streets.
- Large two & three storey blocks of flats blighting the views from the ings and Main Street.
- Loss of secure and peaceful surroundings for residents of Connaught Court.
- Loss of building land which could be used to extend the facilities of Connaught Court in the future.
We believe this development (should permission be granted), will blight the heart of Fulford.
(Read about the felling of the copper beech trees in “articles” section).
Please note that current plans are not available for downloading. Please use link to CoYC’s website.