Harrogate Borough Council has revealed plans for social housing at seven sites which it said would make a “small but important contribution” to the serious shortage of affordable homes.
With around 1,800 households on its housing waiting list, the council has made a push to bring forward new homes on small sites.
However, it has been criticised for not going further or faster enough to provide more homes for Harrogate’s low-income earners who are being driven out of the area by high rent and house prices.
The council’s latest plans include social housing at sites in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Huby.
The Knaresborough site off Halfpenny Close is the largest and could accommodate around 14 homes for market, social rent and shared ownership if approved. All of the properties would be classed as “affordable”.
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A total of £170,000 in government cash has been secured by the council to progress these plans, and some of the money has already been spent on site surveys.
There are also proposals for five shared ownership apartments at the former Cavendish House hostel on Robert Street, Harrogate.
The council said these apartments would be for “first time buyers unable to afford to access the property market”.
Also in Harrogate, two properties are planned for St Andrew’s Place where the council has admitted vehicular access would be “tight” on the single lane street.
Another home has been proposed for Gascoigne Crescent in the town.
On Knaresborough’s Charlton Drive, a garage site which has been described as in “very poor condition” could also become a new build.
There are also proposals for single properties on both Springfield Drive, Boroughbridge, and Kingsway in Huby.
A decision to submit planning applications for all six sites is set to be signed off by Cllr Mike Chambers, cabinet member for housing and safer communities, at a meeting next Tuesday.
A report to the meeting said the development of similar sites has been “long established” and “makes good use of the council’s landholdings”.
The report also said the council would bid for extra government funding to develop the proposals if planning permission is granted.
It added:
“There are circa 1,800 households on the waiting list for social/affordable rented housing and circa 650 first time buyers registered for shared ownership.
“These underutilised sites will make a small but important contribution to helping meet that need.”
