Five-year plan to be drawn up for thousands of new homes

An ambitious strategy is being developed to deliver thousands of homes across North Yorkshire.

The draft North Yorkshire Housing Strategy provides a framework for housing policies and projects to be undertaken by North Yorkshire Council over the next five years.

It includes proposals to tackle homelessness, meet the needs of the ageing population, increase the supply of affordable and available housing and improve the energy efficiency of housing, which would reduce fuel poverty.

It aims to deliver at least 12,685 new homes – of which 4,000 properties will be affordable – over the next five years.

And a council housing growth plan will be drawn up to include increasing the authority’s existing stock of 8,500 homes.

Executive member for housing, Councillor Simon Myers, said: “This is the first housing strategy of the new North Yorkshire Council and outlines our vision for housing across the county, our priorities and the actions we will take.

“North Yorkshire contains diverse housing markets, with varying housing needs and many challenges, but local government reorganisation has given us a once in a generation opportunity to transform services, drive innovation and improve outcomes for our communities and the people who need the most help.

“We will take a proactive approach to housing delivery, and we will develop a bold plan to deliver more homes, including more affordable properties over the next five years.

“We will use the new combined strength of the unitary authority and the advantage of being a stockholding council to unlock greater resources, access funding opportunities and accelerate housing growth and regeneration, ensuring that we deliver sustainably, and develop inclusive places.”

At his executive meeting on 13 September, Cllr Myers will be asked to approve that the draft strategy goes out for consultation with council members, partners, stakeholders, registered providers, government agencies, tenants, residents, and other key council services.

The consultation will run for around two months, starting in October.