Golden Triangle seeks ways of providing more affordable homes
Please note as of May 2011, The Godlen Triangle Partnership has now closed.
THE
results of a ten-month study into concerns about house prices in the local authority areas of Harrogate, Leeds and York (known as the Golden Triangle) will be unveiled today (22 November).
The study and subsequent report 'Making it Work' was paid for by an Innovation and Good Practice grant from the Housing Corporation and was commissioned by the Golden Triangle Partnership, which is made up of housing and planning staff from the three local councils.
Since its formation two years ago, the Golden Triangle Partnership has pioneered new ways of ensuring sustainable solutions to affordable housing.
'Making it Work' has a number of recommendations founded on the belief that neighbouring areas need to work together because people's lives and work straddle local authority boundaries.
The key outcomes of 'Making it Work' are expected to:
·
Increase the supply of affordable housing
·
Create more efficient handling of planning applications with an affordable housing element
·
Improve value for money when using public subsidy (social housing grant)
·
Improve partnership working across the Golden Triangle.
More than 100 government policy makers, regional planners and housing providers from both the private and public sectors in the north of England gathered in Leeds to hear an address from Isobel Mills, Director, People and Communities of the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber at the launch of Making it Work.
She said: "House prices in Yorkshire and the Humber have risen by 155 per cent over the past 10 years, flats and maisonettes have risen by 216 per cent.
On average, first time buyers now have to pay more than four times their salary to buy a property.
In the Golden Triangle, the figure is even higher due to disparities between incomes and house prices.
With nine out of ten people aspiring to home ownership we need to do something. This report is the first step towards developing a more integrated approach to the negotiation and delivery of affordable housing across our high-value areas.
The aim is to create a seamless process that increases availability and speeds up delivery."
Councillor Jean Butterfield, Cabinet Member for Housing, at Harrogate Borough Council who attended the launch of the report, said: "A key part of the Partnership's work has been the development of good practice in relation to the discounted home ownership products, which make home ownership possible for those unable to buy a home on the open market.
"Also, by working in partnership it has given us greater clout when trying to secure outside funding than if the three authorities worked individually.
This has been reflected in the recent commissioning of the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust to pilot a £500,000 Homebuy Plus scheme which offers percentage equity grants to the purchaser to be repaid on selling.
We have also secured funding valued at £7m from the Regional Housing Board's transformation budget over the next five years." ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Making it Work was researched and compiled by David Cumberland Housing Regeneration Ltd and involved working with a number of local authorities across the country, including members of the Golden Triangle.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Councillor Jean Butterfield is available for comment on 01423
770381.
More information on the Golden Triangle Partnership is available from Michelle Fletcher, Partnership Manager on 0113 247 5885.