FOUNDATIONS are finally being laid for the first properties at one of York’s biggest and most controversial housing developments.

Twelve years after the £100 million Derwenthorpe model village scheme was first mooted by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, Lord Mayor Sue Galloway has used a spade to help lay the first foundations.

The project was bitterly contested over more than a decade by local campaigners angered over issues including loss of open space and extra traffic on local roads.

But the developers said yesterday that, once completed, the development would offer 540 high-quality eco-friendly and energy efficient homes which had been expertly designed to be as innovative as they were practical.

“Careful designs mean this scheme will offer homes to suit the needs of all kinds of buyers, plugging the gaps in the current market with exciting and importantly environmentally conscious ‘Homes of the Future’,” said a spokesman.

David Wilson Homes, which is involved in this section of the scheme, said it would consist of 64 homes offering “never before seen in the region eco-extras”, including rain water harvesting, bio-mass heating facilities and contemporary methods of insulation which will guarantee reduced fuel bills for residents.

Paul Newman, managing director of David Wilson Yorkshire East, said he was “thrilled and extremely excited” to be working with the trust on what he thought was one of the firm’s most inspiring projects to date.

“These homes are geared to exceed the expectations of today’s buyers through their advanced capabilities to reduce energy consumption, something which we are extremely passionate about.”

Nigel Ingram, the trust’s director of development and property services, said its ultimate aim was to develop a sustainable community, which achieved standards of environmental excellence but also created a real sense of place through quality design.

“Derwenthorpe will provide housing suitable for people with varying needs and lifestyles, which can be easily adapted in future years to reflect residents’ changing needs,” he said.