The couple whose house sale fell through after it was revealed that a rail compound was due to be built in an adjoining field say it has wiped £55K off the value of their home.
As revealed in YorkMix, Network Rail wants to put a compound on a field off Moor Lane, west of Moor Lane Car Park, for two years and 11 months as part of work to upgrade the line between York and Church Fenton.
Neighbours were told about the plans in a letter last Friday – nine days before work was due to begin. Network Rail have now agreed to pause work until March 19 to allow for a consultation with residents.
The decision saw the house sale of an elderly couple fall through.
Now their son-in-law Matthew Williamson has revealed that it has wiped £55K off the value of their home.
“The house my in laws were moving to fell through because of the loss of the sale. In a week they went from having a sold house, to having a house that is unsellable and no where to move to.
“The house has been revalued since the plans for the compound and it has now been valued at £55,000 less.”
Residents in limbo
Ward councillor Stephen Fenton met with Network Rail days after the plans were revealed to share residents’ concerns.
“One of the biggest issues is that residents are in limbo because there has been such a lack of information and they don’t know how far away the compound will be from their homes,” he said.
He said: “The issue of concern that remains is what Network Rail can offer to help the family who are stuck in a home that they feel is now not sellable.”
Network Rail has paused work to create the temporary construction compound until March 19 to engage with neighbours and the local community.
Neil Holm, director for the Transpennine Route Upgrade at Network Rail, said: “I understand the concerns raised about the temporary compound and thank local residents for their initial feedback.
“We are receptive to this and have quickly acted to pause the start date to give us extra time to carry out an engagement exercise with residents.
“This will allow us to seek further feedback and also layout our plans in finer detail to help minimise disruption from the compound.”
York Outer MP Julian Sturdy added: “I very much share the concerns that several Woodthorpe residents have raised with me about the levels of noise and disruption that would result from Network Rail’s planned machinery compound on a greenfield site off Moor Lane.
“I was pleased to hear that Network Rail have responded to these concerns and agreed to delay the opening of the site to allow time to consult with local residents.
“As part of this I have asked Network Rail to meet with me to discuss how the upgrade to the line between York and Church Fenton can be completed in a less disruptive manner going forward.”