Thousands of county families benefit from £67m scheme

Thousands of families across North Yorkshire have benefitted from a £67m investment to tackle homelessness and provide vital affordable housing. More than 1,800 affordable homes have been made available and almost 6,000 families have avoided being forced out onto the streets under the multi-million pound scheme to provide housing in priority areas across the county over the last three years.

Funded by the former Regional Housing Board and the Homes and Communites Agency, the project has also seen 227 new homes for the elderly created, as well as a number of “eco homes” built.

The scheme has also placed a special focus on rural affordable housing, with a specialist team employed to develop 550 local homes for people in some of the most remote parts of the county.

Coun Richard Foster, chairman of the North Yorkshire and York Housing Board, which has been leading the project, said: “When we put together our investment plan in early 2007 we couldn’t have known how important it was going to be to provide new affordable homes for people in need.

“Our plan took us through a time of turmoil for the housing industry, and provided a much needed investment into North Yorkshire and York not just to deliver new homes, but make sure existing homes are improved and safe.”

Across Hambleton and Richmondshire over 350 affordable homes were delivered, and over 1,300 homes improved.

Other projects also contributed to the districts’ housing priorities, including a new women’s refuge in Northallerton, Extra Care accommodation in Richmond and Northallerton, and rural housing developments for people in places such as Newton on Ouse, Reeth, Catterick Village and Tollerton.

Coun Tim Swales, cabinet member for housing and planning at Hambleton, said: “We’ll continue to work together to deliver our housing priorities.

“The needs of older people, as well as young families struggling to get on the housing ladder are dealt with through our plans. But we know we need to do more to continue to provide affordable homes for people who need them, especially in our rural communities.”