Scarborough Borough Council Look at Housing Partnership

Sunday, 30 October 2022 09:14

A new affordable housing delivery joint venture (JV) could be created between Lovell Partnerships Ltd and Scarborough Borough Council.

This follows a competitive market testing exercise by the Borough Council to secure a 50/50 development partner.

With 2,000 households currently on waiting list for social rented housing in the borough and 4,000 specialist homes for life, accessible and adaptable homes required, the 30 year partnership will focus on delivering high quality and sustainable affordable new homes across the borough with the capacity to deliver more than 700 new homes over an initial 10 year period.

It is expected that a significant proportion of these new homes will be truly affordable.

The council has declared a both a climate and ecological emergency and whilst keenly awaited changes to environmental standards are to be formally introduced to the house building sector, the partnership will build new homes that are up to 75% more carbon efficient from day one.

In addition, the JV will represent a real opportunity for training the next generation joining the construction industry, with a real focus on skills development and close working with local schools and colleges.

Closely aligned to the devolution asks around housing, the partnership is future proofed to enable the new council for North Yorkshire to use and add in more development sites over the 30 year lifespan of the partnership.

Cllr Steve Siddons, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said:

“I am delighted and genuinely excited at the prospect of joining forces with a market leader of such experience, size and scale.

“This partnership could be transformative for not just our borough but across the new North Yorkshire geography, who have the same affordable housing challenges as we do and who will want to help tackle climate change”.

Mary Parsons, National Regeneration & Partnerships director for Lovell added:

“We are delighted to be the partner of choice for Scarborough Borough Council.

“It’s been a really tough competitive process and we feel we can help Scarborough deliver on its objectives to build good quality, sustainable affordable housing for its residents as well as making a significant contribution to the local economy”.

A meeting of the council’s Lives and Homes Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Friday 4 November will consider how the selected partner has been secured before the council’s Cabinet decides on moving to the next stage of formalising arrangements.

North Yorkshire County Council will then decide whether to ratify the partnership as part of Local Government Reorganisation legislation.