By 2021, the UK will need another 4 million new homes. Of these,
60 per cent will be built on used, 'brownfield' land. But the sheer
number of new homes needed means we can't avoid building at least
1.5 million on undeveloped 'greenfield' land.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
and Housing Trust believe that the most acceptable way to build
on such land is to create new communities on the edge of towns and
cities, taking advantage of the infrastructure, transport and
community networks already in existence.
One hundred years ago, Joseph Rowntree built York's garden
village of
New
Earswick to the north of York as a model community, from which
others might learn lessons. A century later, we hope to emulate
this with a new community to be built on land owned by the City of
York Council, to the east of the city.
Known as Derwenthorpe, the new community is being developed in
partnership with the City of York Council to be a model urban
extension edge-of-town development. The new community will
include:
- rented and low-cost home ownership homes scattered among fully
owner-occupied housing
- high-quality 'lifetime'
homes, meeting the needs of young families, people with
disabilities, and older residents
- involvement of residents in the development and management of
the community
- sustainable, energy-friendly principles
- pedestrian-friendly streets, reduced traffic flow, secure homes
and safe open spaces
- communal facilities that meet the needs of residents in the new
housing and in surrounding communities
- enhanced local transport systems including car club, cycle ways
and pedestrian links
From the very earliest stages, residents in the neighbouring
communities have been involved in consultation, discussions and
decisions about the site's development.