The continuous removal of family housing through sub-division of properties must stop, according to a local city councillor. Tracey Simpson-Laing proposed a council motion in April 2009, calling for council planning officers to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which would make sub-division either impossible or extremely unlikely in York.

But she says almost a year since her motion, little has been done in response to the will of council. She says:

"All the while we are not acting, landlords and developers are applying to sub-divide usually terraced properties, for the purpose of profit. That is their business, but as a council they should not expect us roll over and accept this practice as it is both undesirable and damaging to the city.

"Despite the motion that was agreed last year specifying a September deadline for the document to come forward, the only document I have been shown is a page
and a half on space standards for residential development. Agreed space standards are critically important and should form the basis for the SPD that has been agreed, but this short document in itself falls well short of what is required - it is not something that imposes restrictions on developers and that is what is required.

"Whatever landlords and developers say on this, the council has a responsibility to the resident population both today and in the future. If we don't act now, we are letting people down in a major way by contributing to further house price rises. In agreeing planning for sub-division, the council is complicit in the removal of family housing, and it is a situation that must end, and soon".

Coun. Simpson-Laing added that the sub-division of many properties is creating properties with very small floor space area, leaving tenants unable to accommodate many of the common belongings and appliances that people possess.