A DECISION is due to be made on City of York Council's plans to build new flats for older people who are ready to downsize from family homes on land near Hob Moor Nature Reserve.

A planning committee is due to meet on Wednesday next week to discuss the plans for Newbury Avenue - a site which currently houses 28 garages.

The housing department wants to put eight two-bedroomed flats and one one-bedroomed flat, with parking and communal outside areas, and the homes will be available at social rent levels for people over the age of 55.

Planning officials have recommended that permission is granted for the scheme, but said that because the site was close to an old landfill site it could be contaminated with landfill gas, and asked for investigations before any building work starts.

Newbury Avenue is close to another council house building site - on Chaloner's Road - where in August permission was granted for six flats and two houses.

Another planned council house development, for eight two bedroomed flats on Fenwick Street near Rowntree Park, is also awaiting planning permission.