PEOPLE struggling to get a foot on the York and North Yorkshire property ladder have been handed a welcome boost after the Government confirmed it was pumping £285 million into the regional housing market.

As part of the two-year cash injection, building affordable houses in the "golden triangle" hot-spot of York, Harrogate and north Leeds will be a key priority.

Plans to build cheaper rural housing across the county in villages and towns with populations of under 3,000 are also in the pipeline. Under the new scheme, £127 million will be made available for housing associations in Yorkshire and Humberside to bid, allowing "social landlords" to meet changing needs.

Joe Bvumburai, development manager with York Housing Group (YHG), linked to Ryedale Housing Association, backed the scheme. YHG manages 12,000 low-rent and sale properties throughout the county. He said: "This is good news for housing associations. We'll be able to provide more homes in areas like York where there's high demand but high cost."

Plans to increase low-cost housing stocks will be welcomed - particularly by first-time buyers, young families and public sector workers currently priced out of a sky-high property market.

A government spokeswoman said: "Those areas in the 'golden triangle' are all very desirable locations - with price tags to match.

"This funding will help lay foundations for more affordable homes for people in those areas where there is an acute shortage."

Councils in York, Harrogate and North Yorkshire will be handed cash, guidelines and targets under the multi-million pound project, which will see a percentage of new homes built at attractive prices.

Derek Gauld, principal development officer with City of York Council, welcomed the initiative.

He said: "City of York Council has a proven record of delivering affordable housing and is known as a leading authority in terms of negotiating low-cost homes as part of private developments.

"However, there is still a significant requirement for more affordable housing in the city and we welcome any initiatives which help us meet this need."

The Government, announcing the £5 billion national scheme yesterday, said it would propel its policy to put "housing at the heart of sustainable communities".

Regional housing boards will direct cash to needy areas and also manage housing association bids.

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, October 22, 2003