Could this community living project in Lowfield Green, York provide a model for sustainable, affordable homes across our region and beyond?
In October last year the first units were lifted into position in a project which will eventually see the creation of a new community living project in the heart of York suburb Lowfield Green.
The event marked a significant milestone in what has been an ambitious project led by the very people who will move into the 19 homes on the Lowfield Green site, determined to create a way of life with community and sustainability at its heart.
Their efforts were validated recently when the Government announced it would provide £20 million to support similar community groups. The hope is that the funding will lead to the creation of 2,500 new homes over the next decade, across the UK.
Their efforts were validated recently when the Government announced it would provide £20 million to support similar community groups. The hope is that the funding will lead to the creation of 2,500 new homes over the next decade, across the UK.
Driven collectively by YorSpace and Lowfield Green Housing Cooperative (LGHC), the project here in York began in 2013 with a group of people wanting to find a better way to live. These affordable homes are not just innovative in how they are owned and protected for future generations of York residents in housing need but in the sustainable concepts in their construction and how they will encourage sharing of resources to reduce the community’s collective carbon footprint.
Car sharing, secure bike storage, the use of electric or renewable energy instead of gas, growing food onsite and even the sharing of everyday items such as lawnmowers, are all part of the Cooperative’s vision.
LGHC co-founder, and future Lowfield Green resident, Sue, said she wanted to make a difference to people in York who are struggling to find homes in the city.
“Me and my partner currently live far away from family, so living in a supportive community will make a big difference to us, I am most looking forward to my daughter having a safe, car-free space to play outdoors with other children.”
Sue is also a co-founder of YorSpace, the non-profit Community Land Trust (CLT), which owns and develops land for the long-term benefit of the community.
YorSpace successfully bid for £516,000 from York and North Yorkshire’s Brownfield Housing Fund. The fund, from the UK Government, came to our region as part of the devolution process and is enabling the delivery of affordable and innovative housing projects across York and North Yorkshire.
In the case of Lowfield Green, the land was obtained from City of York Council, on the site of the former Lowfield School, which closed in 2009.
James Neward, Chief Operations Officer at YorSpace, said:
“Our business model at Lowfield Green gives residents the chance to buy homes at 70 per cent of the market value, with a covenant in place which keeps the land in community hands forever. They will never be available as buy-to-let, for private landlords.
“The homes will always be more affordable than similar sized properties in York.
“YorSpace and the community groups we work with are beyond grateful for the forward thinking and transformational approach the Combined Authority has taken in supporting the first project of its kind in York.”
He said he hoped the project would act as a catalyst for more schemes designed by and for the people who will live in them.
The 19 low carbon homes are being built to Passivhaus standards, a construction concept to produce homes with a very low carbon footprint.
At Lowfield Green, construction is by Yorkshire-based building company PureHaus. The design will reduce CO2 emissions and energy bills, adding to the properties long-term affordability for residents and playing a part in the region’s ambition to achieve carbon negative by 2040.
Future residents, Laura and Tom said:
“We're really excited about being neighbours with the lovely bunch that are Lowfield Green Housing Co-op, and having a shared outdoor car-free space to enjoy together.”
During a visit to the site, David Skaith, York and North Yorkshire Mayor saw the project’s progress for himself.
He said:
“It was really great to see these innovative modular homes which are designed to be sustainable and create a sense of community for residents.
“The project embodies many of the things we want to achieve as a combined authority. It’s so encouraging to see the funding we’ve gained through devolution, enabling sustainable, permanently affordable housing, designed to create a sense of community and wellbeing.”
“Here in York and North Yorkshire we have the experience and commitment to take this community -led concept further, and I’ll be supporting efforts to attract a share of the recently-announced Government funding to our region.”
