Housing

Answer: This is clearly a topical concern and once which is reflected in other 'hotspot' cities across the country and in many ways it is a national issue which requires national attention.

City of York Council has always been concerned about the level of homelessness in York and the impact of rising house prices. We have lost over a third of the housing stock in York since Right to Buy in 1980 but as an authority we have worked hard with housing associations and developers to ensure a supply of affordable homes for outright purchase, shared ownership and rent.

We are also trying to use the planning process creatively to try to get a better mix in new developments in terms of meeting the York housing market issues rather than only providing homes for locaters from West Yorkshire or London or speculative buy-to-let investors which is becoming an issue in the city within some private sector developments.

We have recently signalled our desire to increase affordability in new developments to 50 per cent and we have innovated with projects like our City Centre Living scheme and the modular, factory-built development at Sixth Avenue.

The council is also working hard in partnership with housing associations and developers to meet the demand for new homes by identifying and locating brownfield sites and bringing forward plans for new communities at Osbaldwick and Germany Beck.

Our work with developers and the planning protocol we have developed with homes builders has been genuinely ground-breaking and has earned attention across the country including key figures in Scottish housing.

This is a national issue but we are working as hard as we can to ensure as many people as possible can share in the prosperity of the city.

Q: With the housing market in York spiralling ever upwards, how can the council help first-time buyers get on the ladder? Mark W, Tang Hall

A: This is clearly a topical concern and once which is reflected in other 'hotspot' cities across the country and in many ways it is a national issue which requires national attention.

City of York Council has always been concerned about the level of homelessness in York and the impact of rising house prices.

We have lost over a third of the housing stock in York since Right to Buy in 1980 but as an authority we have worked hard with housing associations and developers to ensure a supply of affordable homes for outright purchase, shared ownership and rent.

We are also trying to use the planning process creatively to try to get a better mix in new developments in terms of meeting the York housing market issues rather than only providing homes for locaters from West Yorkshire or London or speculative buy-to-let investors which is becoming an issue in the city within some private sector developments.

We have recently signalled our desire to increase affordability in new developments to 50 per cent and we have innovated with projects like our City Centre Living scheme and the modular, factory-built development at Sixth Avenue.

The council is also working hard in partnership with housing associations and developers to meet the demand for new homes by identifying and locating brownfield sites and bringing forward plans for new communities at Osbaldwick and Germany Beck.

Our work with developers and the planning protocol we have developed with homes builders has been genuinely ground-breaking and has earned attention across the country including key figures in Scottish housing.

This is a national issue but we are working as hard as we can to ensure as many people as possible can share in the prosperity of the city.