York City Council has secured funding from Homes England to increase affordable housing on a planned new housing site.
The northern cities first Passivhaus homes in Heworth and Clifton will be available by 2024 and with extra funding from the government, 60% of them will be affordable.
Originally, 40% of the houses were due to be affordable, with 34 homes at Duncombe Barracks in Clifton and 78 at Burnholme in Heworth.
However, the additional funding means 60%, three times the recommended levels of affordable homes, can be delivered across both villages.
Cllr Denise Craghill, Executive Member for Housing and Safer Communities said: ‘I’m delighted that residents can now benefit from 60% affordable Passivhaus homes.
‘Not only does this provide much-needed additional social housing, but it offers more support for people struggling to get on the property ladder.
‘The funding secured from Homes England by our Housing Delivery Programme, supports our Climate Change Action Plan as these homes will be zero-carbon in use.
‘This also opens the door to even more people on lower incomes benefiting from the high quality and reduced energy use of Passivhaus-standard housing.’
A spokesperson from Homes England said: ‘Our support for the provision of additional high-quality Passivhaus affordable housing at the Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme schemes is real evidence of the value that a partnership approach can bring.
‘This investment maximises the opportunity for City of York Council to offer affordable home ownership in an area of real housing affordability pressure.’
The Passivhaus home are part of York’s plan to support low carbon lifestyles in a low carbon setting, with the roads foundations being built from rubble recycled from the few demolished, unused buildings on the site, saving on materials, transport and labour.
As well as creating sustainable roads, a new car-free route will be constructed at Duncombe Barracks.
20% of the homes will be allocated for social rent and 40% will be for shared ownership where eligible people can buy between a 35-75% share.
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