Massive support for affordable homes

Tue, Jun 13th 2006, 11:00

Over a hundred potential first time buyers have given a massive thumbs up to homes set to cost from just £60,000 in Selby, a town which has seen some of Yorkshire’s fastest house price rises in recent years.

Redrow plans to bring its innovative and award winning Debut range of low-cost homes to Selby, with potential starting prices of just £59,995*, and to measure the level of interest and support, the house builder held a public exhibition at Selby Town Hall on 24 May.

Around 150 to 200 people turned up to view plans and find out all about the Debut concept, and then registered their support for the proposals. The majority of them completed questionnaires for submission to Selby District Council supporting the planning application in the hope that the development will obtain planning consent and provide the opportunity for many to own their first home.

Mark Leigh, managing director for Redrow Homes (Yorkshire), says: “We’re absolutely delighted with the show of public support for our plans. The feedback was unanimous; everyone we spoke to was excited about the possibility of Debut coming to Selby.

“There’s a definite affordability issue in the area, for first time buyers in particular, and the high turn out showed there’s a huge need for this type of housing. We hope this gives a clear signal to the local authority that first time buyers need the vital new rung on the ladder that Debut provides.”

According to research by Halifax Estate Agents house prices in Selby rose 163% between 1999 and 2004, one of five Yorkshire towns to show increases of more than 150%.

The average house price in Selby is now £176,996 and even the humble terrace – always a popular choice among first time buyers – will set someone back an average of £124,027.

Redrow has submitted proposals to Selby District Council to build 123 new one and two-bedroom homes on the site of the former Providence Mill, off Holme Lane in Selby, with areas of public open space and the development of a riverside walk along the River Ouse also planned.

The planning application is due to be determined at the next Planning Committee meeting on 21 June. Redrow hopes that Selby District Councillors will take notice of the large number of people who voted with their feet by attending the exhibition, as well as the support also received from Selby Town Council and other organisations.

Redrow’s experience with Debut in other parts of the country is that these homes are generally snapped up by people in their 20s and 30s, many of them key workers such as firemen, nurses and teachers, or office workers and others in various professional and skilled manual occupations, perhaps at the early stages of their career. The majority are still living with parents, or else in rented accommodation, and are keen to take their first step onto the housing ladder into a home that is affordable to acquire, affordable to live in, and in a managed environment that will ensure that the initial quality is continued in the longer term.

Importantly, a legal framework is in place to prevent professional buy-to-let investors from snapping up Debut homes, so ensuring their availability to local people.

To view video walk-throughs, find out more about the award-winning range of homes and register your interest, go online to www.debutbyredrow.co.uk