York summit to inspire healthier housing

rural-housingLocal authority and NHS leaders are among those attending City of York Council’s health and housing summit.

The summit aims to identify new ways in which private homes can be made healthier to help people stay in them more safely and for longer.

The Northern Health and Housing Summit: Better Homes, Better Health will be held on 13 June at the University of York in partnership with the Building Research Establishment and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP). It’s one of the few events which aims to tackle pressures on health, social care and in the biggest housing tenure the private sector and will share evidence and research findings which can be used to help shape policy and practice locally and nationally.
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Future of Lowfields school site to be considered on 30th June

Lowfields school site is now overgrown

Lowfields school site is now overgrown

Only days after the NHS said it was considering building a  Mental Health Hospital on the Lowfields school site, the York Council has slated the future of the location for debate on 30th June.

A new “Forward Programme” has been published which gives only 4 weeks notice of the discussion.

The three items down for decision are: 

1. Move forward with plans for the re-development of the Lowfields school site, beginning with public engagement regarding use and design.
2. Consult on the closure of a further Older Persons’ Home in the autumn of 2016 and one in the first half of 2017, following the Moving Homes Safely Protocol.
3. Open negotiations to purchase land adjacent to Haxby Hall in order to facilitate the examination of options for its future.

The original intention had been to site an older persons “village” on the footprint of the former school site. This was subsequently abandoned when the then Labour led Council lost control of the project amidst escalating costs.

Instead, they decided to concentrate all resources on building a new “hub” on the east of the city at Burnholme.

This led to accusations that the Council was ignoring the needs of older people on the Acomb side of the City. 

There now seems to be no chance of the Council finding money to develop the site itself.

Instead the hope is that it will be put on the open market (as it could have been two years ago) with bids being assessed against an agree set of criteria. If the aim remains to provide accommodation principally aimed at older people (the site is ideally located near to amenities) then a high weighting could be given to bids that can guarantee that outcome. 

This is what the Council (belatedly) did when selling off the Oliver House elderly persons home for redevelopment. That site was subsequently sold to a company specialising in retirement properties.

This strategy has the added value that older people “downsizing” to Lowfields would free up more family sized accommodation elsewhere.

Residents will be keeping an eagle eye on the Council to ensure that no development intrudes onto the Lowfields playing fields.

There is a shortage of football pitches on the west of the City and potentially the former school playing field would also be an important amenity for any new community development.

 

Housing rental prices stabilising in York?

The latest ONS figures show that private rental prices of homes in the Yorkshire region have increased by 4% since 2011.

This compares to a 13% increase overall in England (21% in London).

In York rental prices remain high although they are stabilising as more and more purpose built student accommodation units are completed.

Flat in Merton Court advertised for £80,000

Flat in Merton Court advertised for £80,000

A typical 2 bedroomed property in Beaconsfield Street is currently listed at £775 pcm while a non fore-courted property in the neighbouring Milner Street would cost £750 a month. A 3 bed town house on Foxwood Lane is advertised for £775 a month.

A one bedroomed flat on Front Street can be rented for £475 a month

A two bedroomed flat on Albert Close can be rented for £595 pcm

For those trying to get onto the house ownership ladder there are still some bargains are around.

As well as the new flats currently being marketed on Front Street for £125,000 each, recent sales have included two bedroomed apartments in Dringfield Close and St James’s Croft for less than £140,000.

Lowest price currently advertised is for a 1 bed flat in  Merton Court (Windsor Garth) which is listed at £80,000.

House prices in York remain below the national average. Locally prices peaked in 2008 and have – on average – yet to climb back to that level.

House price trends in York

House price trends in York

 

Benefit advice sessions move to Acomb Explore Library

The York Council has announced that residents will be able to receive benefits advice and support at Acomb Explore Library Learning Centre from Monday 6 June.
Cllr Sue Hunter, Cllr Sheena Jackson and Cllr Andrew Waller outside the Acomb Explore Library

Cllr Sue Hunter, Cllr Sheena Jackson and Cllr Andrew Waller outside the Acomb Explore Library

The benefits advice service is moving from the Gateway Centre to Acomb Explore Library Learning Centre on Monday 6 June as part of work to make it easier for residents to access benefits advice.

The Council in 2010 announced plans to make the library a local information and advice hub but the idea was shelved by the Labour controlled Council when it closed the Acomb Housing Office in 2012.

Still it goes to show that good ideas will always rise to the surface.

Residents will be able to drop-in at the weekly sessions between 9am and 3pm (closed between 12.30pm and 1pm) where a trained adviser will be on hand to support residents.

In addition to the weekly sessions, all Explore Library Learning Centre staff will be trained to help residents access welfare benefits information in the coming months. This change means residents will be able to access support and signposting to the best available services from trained staff whilst also continuing to access the internet for free in Explores across the city.

In a media release the Council also says that “the changes come ahead of the upcoming launch of a new online Customer Relationship Management system and personal council accounts for residents ‘My Account’, a smart and responsive online service which will enable residents to access council services anytime anywhere. The system will also provide webchat meaning residents across the city will have access to more advice and support online on a range of areas, including benefits”.

The much promised electronic “My Account” system has been “launched” on 4 separate occasions over the last two years. We think that the Council would be wise to finish refining and testing the new system before becoming too bullish about it in public statements.
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Burnholme Health & Wellbeing Campus Plans

Bunholme "hub" layout. click to enlarge

Bunholme “hub” layout. 

Members of City of York Council’s Executive will be asked to approve plans to progress the new Health and Wellbeing Campus at Burnholme at their meeting later this month (19 May).

The plans, which form an element of the Older Person’s Accommodation Programme, include:

  • a nursing and residential care home of at least 82 beds;
  • space for a relocated Explore Library Learning Centre;
  • nursery and out of school care for pre- and primary school age children;
  • meeting and activity spaces for community and voluntary sector groups and communities of interest;
  • space for rent by start-up enterprises and by small third sector organisations;
  • a wide spectrum of both formal and informal indoor sports and active leisure provision;
  • sports pitches and other outdoor activities;
  • accommodation for General Medical (GP) and community-based health services;
  • flexible training and meeting spaces for health service and lifestyle information provision;
  • complementary commercial offering e.g. pharmacy, community cafe etc; and
  • homes to rent and to buy.

Unfortunately no report has been produced updating Councillors on the future of the Lowfields site in Westfield. The site was the original location for improved facilities for older residents.
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Now York Housing department axes garden competition

Latest Streets Ahead newsletter gives little prominence to Council plans

Latest Streets Ahead newsletter gives little prominence to Council plans

Hard on the heels of Saturdays revelation, that housing officials in York are scrapping a garden help scheme for disabled tenants, we are now told that the annual garden competition – labeled as “Homegrown” – is also being axed.

Both decisions have been made without any consultation with tenants.

Nor have the moves been discussed publicly by York Councillors at any of their meetings.

They both appear to reflect a new trend in housing policy with the appearance of publicly visible areas having a very low priority.

The department has been under constant pressure for failing to maintain garage areas and suspending – in many estates – the provision of additional car parking facilities. The result has been badly damaged grass verges.

In some areas like Foxwood the local residents association run garden competitions aimed at all residents. These will continue.but without any support from the York Council.

 

York Tory housing chief set to end disabled garden help scheme

Letters are being sent out by the Council saying that disabled and elderly tenants who get help in maintaining the gardens at their properties will have to pay in future.

Overgrown garage area

Overgrown garage area

Apparently a secret decision has been taken by the Conservative Councillor, who heads the housing department, that the free scheme must end next year.

It is the latest in a series of decisions targeting Council tenants in York. Two months ago the same Councillor endorsed a strategy which could see hundreds of Council houses demolished

The housing department has also been under fire recently for failing to maintain communal and garage areas in the City’s housing estates.

York private sector housing standards plan open for consultation

York slum circa 1933

York slum circa 1933

A consultation is being shared by City of York Council with residents, partners in health, housing, and those involved in the private rented market, regarding a draft Private Sector Housing Strategy.

Using data from research carried out by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and commissioned by the council, the strategy aims to make homes in York safer and healthier places.

The strategy itself outlines plans to work closely with partners and residents to tackle poverty and disadvantage and to ensure that homes are healthier for their occupants.

These improvements to health and wellbeing aim to protect the vulnerable and dovetail with a vision for York to be a leading sustainable city with ongoing economic prosperity. Under the new One Planet York programme the city will strive for vibrancy and diversity of the local economy, the health and social wellbeing of residents and the quality of the built and natural environment.
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