St Peter's School in York withdraws car park plan

Plans to build a car park and new sports facilities at one of the oldest schools in the world have been withdrawn.

St Peter's School in York, which was founded in 627 AD, had applied to build a 78-space car park, eight floodlit hockey pitches and six tennis courts.

Council planning officers had recommended refusal.

The school said it had taken the decision to withdraw the application to allow "further discussions".

The independent school's plans, which had included a new access road off Westminster Road, had been due to be discussed by City of York Council's planning committee on 7 March.

Since being submitted, the proposal had attracted 239 objections and 117 letters of support.

Concerns raised included the non-sustainable nature of the development, the loss of several trees, development within the Green Belt and potential increased flood risk.

In 2022 residents living in Westminster Road said they were worried about extra traffic and pollution.

An officer's report had recommended turning down the plans as they were "unacceptable in planning terms".

A spokesperson for St Peter's said: "We have taken the decision to withdraw the current planning application.

"This will allow us further time to continue our discussions with the council, and other stakeholders, and to resolve outstanding matters."

They said they remained committed to "improving both the transport arrangements in the area and sporting facilities" for the school and wider community.

St Peter's is the fourth oldest school in the world and was founded in the same year as York Minster.

Guy Fawkes attended the school in 1575.

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