Over 700 homes planned as part of regeneration project

Developer Keepmoat Homes has submitted joint applications to build 768 homes on either side of Hawthorn Avenue in west Hull.

The scheme, part of wider regeneration plans for the area, would feature a mix of two, three and four-bedroom predominantly two-storey houses with access roads.

A total of 491 of the new properties would be built to the west of the avenue, with some allotment gardens, in an area which includes the former Amy Johnson School site.

They would be for sale, shared ownership and rent and be of different layout than the previous properties in the area, which were typically served by small alleys rather than directly off the street.

The remainder would be built on the east side of the avenue, where most of the existing properties are high density Victorian terraces. The “poor quality” housing stock would be demolished.

The council’s access officer has objected to this element of the scheme on the grounds that only 28 per cent of the new properties would meet Lifetime Homes standards, which requires a three-bedroom property to comprise 915 sq ft, in contrast to the typical 763 sq ft.

However, a report said increasing the proportion of properties to this size would affect the viability of the scheme, and both applications are being recommended for approval.

Last month, the city council and Keepmoat Homes were given £8m from the Regional Growth Fund to transform the Hawthorn Avenue area, which should see 1,475 new homes built with an investment of £135m over the next 13 years, including £9m from the council.

Announcing the award, Coun John Black, portfolio holder for strategic and operational housing, said: “It’s disappointing that local residents have had to wait so long for this announcement, but better late than never.

“The funding is desperately needed to regeneration the Hawthorn Avenue area and create hundreds of local jobs over the next 13 years.

“We can now get on with the job and start to make the much needed improvements to the area that the residents and the city deserve.”