LYHA provides affordable housing boost in Horsforth

Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association (LYHA) has purchased nine new homes under a Section 106 (S106) deal with building contractor Redrow Homes Limited on its landmark development at Horsforth Vale; to provide affordable homes for those looking to rent in the area.

The S106 agreement ensures that any new development provides a mix of homes to own and rent to meet the housing needs of the local area.

In Horsforth, 14.3% of homes are for private rental and social housing accounts for 11.2% of homes. The Association received 496 applications for these nine new homes; from families looking to rent one of the five two-bedroom houses and four three-bedroom houses; an average of 55 applications per property.

LYHA’s purchases follows the National Housing Federation’s Home Truths² report showing that over the next 20 years in the Yorkshire region, there will be a shortfall of 200,000 homes by 2031.

LYHA, which owns and manages 1,300 homes across Leeds, Barnsley, Craven and Whitby, is committed to playing its part in providing new homes to combat the housing shortage with a 20% growth target.

The Association will build or acquire an additional 208 new homes by 2018 and is currently on-site with 25 new homes in Wombwell, Barnsley, with work also about to start on the development of 23 apartments near Hanover Square, close to Leeds city centre.

Joanna Chambers, development manager at LYHA said: “We are delighted to have acquired these nine properties in the first phase of this development which are very much needed.

‘The fact that we had an average of 55 applications for each of the Horsforth Vale properties shows the demand for quality, affordable rental properties in the area. It is vital that more affordable housing is made available in places like Horsforth in order to meet the increasing demand across the region especially for those families who cannot afford to, or don’t want to, buy their own home.“

The new homes will also be affordable to run and are include double glazing along with 100% low energy fittings.

Horsforth Vale is ex-serviceman Jonathan McNichol, his partner Emma Powney and their two year-old son, Frankie have now moved into their new home after being on the local authority waiting list for over two years, whilst living in a third-floor flat in Ireland Wood owned by the local authority.

Speaking about the family’s move, Emma said: “Renting from LYHA is the perfect option for us – if we’d rented privately in this area we wouldn’t have been able to afford to live, so the affordable rent allows us a good quality of life in a lovely home. Our new home is fantastic, Frankie is a different little boy now that he has the garden to play in and he loves watching the trains going by. We’re closer to my work and Frankie’s nursery and have family close by, so we could not be happier.”

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