Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association (LYHA) today celebrates the completion and official opening of a new affordable housing development off Burley Lane, in Horsforth. The £1.8 million scheme comprises thirteen new homes: two 3-bedroom family houses and eleven 2-bedroom apartments for over 55s. These have all been let to local people who were delighted to receive their keys today.
There is an acute need for more affordable housing in this popular area. The average house price in Horsforth is almost £300,000* and a prerequisite for these new homes was that residents must have an existing connection to Horsforth.
Joanna Chambers, Head of Home and Growth at LYHA, comments: “There is a really interesting history behind this development. The land was bequeathed by a local resident to be used for affordable housing and her trustees approached LYHA to carry out her wishes. We have named the new apartments ‘Rosemary Thompson House’ in her memory. The land also includes an area of woodland which, with the help of The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), we have developed into a community garden complete with an insect hotel, bird and bat boxes for local people to enjoy.
Work began on-site in September 2016 and took 18 months to complete. Great care has been taken to ensure the new homes are in keeping with the local area with the site in a conservation area. The stone used to construct the homes was extracted from a quarry in Guiseley.
The scheme was designed by Leeds-based architects, Brewster Bye, and built by northern building company, Starfish Group, who have built the homes to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes to reduce the running costs and carbon emissions for each property. Grant funding was provided through the Leeds City Council’s ‘Right to Buy Replacement Grant Programme’ which helps to support social housing initiatives in Leeds. This is the first newbuild scheme to be delivered under this programme by a housing association.
LYHA’s Chairman, Mike Gaskill, comments, “The new homes look fantastic and we are delighted to be handing over the keys to local people who I’m sure will be very happy. It has been a fascinating project from start to finish and I am so pleased that we have been able to fulfil the benefactor’s wish to create affordable homes in the heart of a thriving community. It is also an excellent example of how strong partnerships can deliver great results.”
Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said: “We are delighted to have helped to fund this new development with Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association, bringing affordable housing to an area of the city which would previously have been out of reach for many Leeds residents. Having quality, affordable housing underpins our ambition for Leeds to have a strong economy and be a compassionate city.”