Whitby And Eastfield to Get Hundreds Of Affordable Homes In Multi-Billion-Pound Housing Joint Venture

North Yorkshire Council is advancing a joint venture with private developer Lovell Partnerships to construct hundreds of affordable homes across Whitby and Eastfield, potentially delivering the first new council-owned social housing in Whitby for over 50 years.

North Yorkshire Council is progressing with plans to establish a multi-billion-pound housing joint venture to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes across the Yorkshire Coast, with significant developments earmarked for Whitby and Eastfield.

A recent council executive report outlines a proposed partnership with private developer Lovell Partnerships Limited. The fifty-fifty Limited Liability Partnership aims to construct environmentally sustainable housing and could operate for up to thirty years.

Councillor Simon Myers explained the scale of the initiative and its aim to tackle regional housing shortages.

He said:

"We looked at the shortage of homes for social rent across North Yorkshire. And it seemed to us that the joint venture was one of the means by which we could address all of these. The proposal is to enter into a joint venture with Lovells.

It is a very big deal for the Council. This agreement, if it works over the next 30 years could deliver 3.9 billion pounds worth of value to the Council."

Initial sites identified for conditional disposal include Sandsend Road in Whitby, which is anticipated to deliver 60 homes, including 18 affordable properties. In Eastfield, Scarborough, plans outline a development of 548 homes, of which 196 will be affordable.

The council intends to enter into forward purchasing agreements to secure 226 of these affordable homes for its Housing Revenue Account, contributing to a wider target of delivering 500 additional homes.

Highlighting the Whitby site, known as HA22, Councillor Myers noted the historic nature of the proposed development for the town of Whitby.

He said:

"The joint venture has a specific objective of increasing the supply of affordable and social rented homes across the county.

Within the development of site HA22, presents an opportunity to facilitate the delivery of new council-owned social rented homes. So these are council homes. These are the most affordable form of housing that there is.

And these homes would provide accommodation for local people on local incomes and would to my knowledge be the first new social rented council homes delivered in Whitby for more than 50 years."

The local authority acknowledges the severe housing pressures in coastal communities, exacerbated by the prevalence of holiday accommodation.

Other ongoing projects are also contributing to the housing supply, with Rievaulx Road in Whitby identified for a potential exclusivity period to work up viable schemes.

Councillor Myers detailed the broader context of housing delivery in the area.

He said:

"Brierely Homes is delivering 49 affordable homes on Broomfield phase three, and they're also exploring 100% affordable home site on Rievaulx Road.

We do recognize the housing challenges facing Whitby, including affordability pressures, the impact of second homes and holiday accommodation, and the need for housing that meets the requirements of local residents.

The provision of new social rented homes through the development would make a direct contribution towards addressing those needs, and would provide housing that remains available to local households in perpetuity."

To protect the new housing stock for local residents, the council is exploring methods to restrict properties from being purchased as holiday investments.

Councillor Myers said:

"One of my concerns is that, particularly in Whitby and on the coast, that we look at a mechanism for ensuring, where we can, that these houses are primary residences, that they are not used as either second homes or holiday lets.

And we're looking towards the best mechanism for ensuring that is carried out. Now, whether that is something that comes through agreement in the joint venture or it is best done through the planning process, we're not quite sure yet. But we have very much an eye to it.

We're not building houses in Whitby for them to become Airbnbs and second homes."

Despite the streamlined delivery mechanism provided by the joint venture, officials insist that all developments will remain subject to rigorous statutory checks and local regulations.

Councillor Myers said:

"The proposed joint venture arrangement does not override or supersede the adopted local plan.

Any future development of the site would still be required to comply with the relevant policies of the local plan. Matters such as the housing mix, affordable housing provision, highway safety, environmental impacts, open space, biodiversity, drainage and the future operation of the golf course will all continue to be assessed through the statutory planning process.

The purpose of the joint venture is not to circumvent planning policy, but to provide an additional mechanism through which new homes can be delivered across North Yorkshire.

Any planning application brought forward by the joint venture would be subject to the same policy requirements, scrutiny and decision-making processes as any other development proposal."