City of York Council’s Labour administration was unable to make all homes on a new development affordable because it was too far advanced when they took power, its housing spokesperson has said.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic said they would have done the scheme featuring 34 energy-efficient Passivhaus homes at Duncombe Square differently if it began under Labour’s tenure, after previously saying prices were obscene.
Environment executive Member Cllr Jenny Kent said the homes, most of which will be offered at social rents or through shared ownership schemes, were designed to keep bill costs down.
But Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said open market homes were being sold for up to almost £700,000, despite Cllr Pavlovic previously criticising estimated average prices of £500,000.
It comes ahead of the homes, in Burton Stone Lane off Bootham, being released for sale on Friday, September 12.
The development is nearing completion after planning permission was first granted in 2021 and building started in 2022 under the council’s previous Liberal Democrat and Green coalition administration.
It features 23 two to four bedroom terraced houses and 11 one-bed apartments which are all designed to Passivhaus standards which aim to reduce the need for heating and cooling.
Duncombe Square’s design features including a central green space, coloured doors, lower garden fences and communal growing areas aim to foster a community spirit amongst residents.
A 30 per cent share of ownership in a one-bed apartment costs £88,500 with monthly repayments and rent totalling £865.93, the cheapest price for a home in the development.
Three-bedroom houses cost £545,000 outright, with four-bed homes set to go on the market for £695,000.
In 2022, then-opposition Labour’s housing spokesperson Cllr Pavlovic said homes at Duncombe Square and Heworth’s Burnholme Green would cost £500,000 on average while homeless families lived in bed and breakfasts.
He added the prices meant the homes would likely cater for people outside York rather than existing residents.
Cllr Pavlovic, speaking in 2022, said: “It can’t be only me who finds it somewhat obscene that we’re selling homes on these sites for an average of £500,000 each.”
Liberal Democrat Cllr Ayre said residents would be asking why all homes were not being sold at affordable rates given Labour’s pledge to do so on developments on council land.
The opposition leader said: “We’re pleased to see these latest houses come forward with 60 per cent affordable homes and cutting-edge Passivhaus standards.
“Cllr Pavlovic consistently opposed this claiming when this programme was agreed that selling homes for £500,000 was obscene.
“It’s interesting to see he is now asking the council’s executive to agree to sell these homes for almost £700,000.”
Speaking to the Local Democrary Reporting Service (LDRS) at Duncombe Square on Wednesday, September 3, Cllr Pavlovic said forthcoming homes built on council land would all be affordable.
He added the development had been able to showcase what a Passivhaus scheme could look like, particularly to private developers.
The executive member said: “This isn’t the scheme we would have brought forward, we’re proud of what’s been achieved but I acknowledge that it was so far advanced when we took power in 2023 that it could not have been turned around without a huge cost.
“This is the design of the future, going forward we need to focus less on the first or second year of homes and more on what they will be like in 20 or 30 years and on if they’ll create cohesive communities.
“We can build both high quality homes and build them in quantity, that’s inherently more affordable more broadly because we won’t have to retrofit them in seven years time and it allows people to live in safer environments that are better for their physical and mental health.”
Environment executive member Cllr Kent said private developers should take note of the long-term approach the council had taken with the design of the development.
The executive member said: “This is a heartfelt plea to developers and their shareholders, you might make a profit in the short-term but we will all pay for cheapness down the line with health and social problems.
“We can’t afford to leave a legacy of cheaply-built houses and we don’t want to create the retrofit nightmare of the future.
“These homes will be cheaper to run, more comfortable, liveable and breathable in the long-run.”
Denise Craghill, the council’s Green housing spokesperson under the previous administration when the scheme was drawn up, said she hoped it would be the model for future developments in York.
Ms Craghill said: “What’s extra special about these developments though is that the whole site is designed to be a fantastic and sustainable place to live with shared and secure green spaces, play streets and a very large amount of cycle storage as well as accessible and adaptable housing and a community space.
“I’m very proud to have been involved with some fantastically dedicated council officers who have made this happen.”aaacc
