North Yorkshire Council has approved the purchase of ten newly built homes in Knaresborough as part of its pledge to deliver 500 affordable homes across the county by 2029.
Seven will be let at social rents and three sold through shared ownership to help people who cannot afford to buy on the open market.
The decision was approved by the council’s executive this week, subject to securing funding from Homes England, with the authority also agreeing to submit a grant application to support the acquisitions.
Councillor Simon Myers, executive member for culture, arts and housing, said:
“I don’t know when the last council houses were built or acquired in Knaresborough, but I suspect it is some considerable time ago and the provision of larger family houses is particularly welcome.
“It’s often very difficult to do and members will be aware that housing prices in the Knaresborough Harrogate area are particularly challenging, so I’m really delighted that we have found a way that meets our criteria in terms of the metrics for the housing revenue account and payback time and so on.
“This ticks all the boxes, but will deliver affordable social rented housing in Knaresborough.”
A report to councillors said there was significant demand for affordable housing in the area, with more than 500 households wanting to live in Knaresborough and surrounding villages.
Across the former Harrogate district alone, more than 7,000 households are registered on North Yorkshire Homechoice waiting for accommodation.
The council has been negotiating with developers to buy completed homes ‘off the shelf’, describing the approach as an important way of delivering new council housing more quickly than building homes itself.
The seven social rented homes will comprise five four-bedroom and two three-bedroom properties, while the shared ownership element will include one three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes.
Councillor Peter Lacey, member for the Coppice Valley and Duchy division, said the three and four-bedroom properties would meet the needs of a number of people on the waiting list.
But he added:
“Knowing Knaresborough as I do, a key issue is young people who can’t afford to stay who sofa surf or have to leave the area etc.
“And that really does create a demographic doughnut within the local community, so I hope this could be followed up in some way, either through community land trust or other means, to address that need as well.”
The purchases will be funded through a combination of borrowing, Housing Revenue Account reserves, Homes England grant funding and receipts from shared ownership sales.
Council officers said the purchases would contribute towards the authority’s target of providing 500 new council homes across North Yorkshire, helping to meet growing demand for good quality, affordable housing.
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