This week’s Conservative led Executive meeting approved the setting up of a £20 million social housing investment fund and plans for an £80m repair and modernisation programme.
This five-year plan is part of a broader 30-year business scheme to extend and improve existing council housing for current and future tenants.
The new fund will secure first refusal rights to buy former council homes when they are sold on the open market – one of several ways in which the plan will secure new homes. On top of the 54 new council houses and flats which have been built since 2015, and a further 27 due by the end of 2017, the fund will ensure that a number of other sites for new affordable homes can be progressed.
In the next five years, £79.9 million will be invested in repairing and improving the existing 7637 council homes, and £42.9million in their ongoing maintenance and improvement.
This year, 160 modernisations are planned – 28 more than the number of homes which were modernised last year. Furthermore, this year, work will include: replacing 650 boilers and heating systems with more efficient systems, and testing and upgrading electrics in 691 homes. Also, as part of the standing water programme, damp damage will be repaired in 80 homes.
Meanwhile, plans are underway to create 57 homes for temporarily homeless people at James House and, as part of the Older Persons’ Accommodation Programme, at Glen Lodge 42 existing homes have been improved with a further 27 new homes nearing completion. These are part of the wider programme which aims to modernise accommodation while helping people retain their independence for as long as possible.
Conservative Councillor Sam Lisle, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods, said “I am delighted that plans to create a new £20m investment fund for council housing are coming forward. This announcement, alongside the strategic partnership with the HCA and proposed housing delivery company, could provide a step-change in affordable house building in York.
“These proposals also support our wider ambition to influence the housing market while generating rental income to support the HRA which, in turn, importantly funds new affordable housing and repairs.”