Background to the Derwenthorpe Development

Background of the Derwenthorpe development

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 Foundation believes 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, the Foundation hopes 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 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, disabled people, 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.

From the very earliest stages, residents in the neighbouring communities have been involved in consultation, discussions and decisions about the site’s development.

Background documents

	Outline Planning Application This Outline Planning Application for the proposed JRHT Derwenthorpe development in York was made publicly available in August 2003. This section provides access to a near complete set of the documents. View the index here.

	Derwenthorpe: A UK demonstration of sustainable development Chris Baines Download a PDF version of this sustainability report here. (0.11MB)

	Masterplanning a new community: Designs for a town extension in York The story of the masterplanning process is told in this web book featuring the four competing masterplans that were commissioned. All the plans, diagrams and illustrations are available in full colour, and there are additional chapters arguing the case for masterplanning, describing the intensive consultation with the local community, and commenting on the ideas put forward in the masterplans. This highly illustrated publication is readable using Adobe Acrobat version 5. File size: 6.28MB. View the document online here.

	New Osbaldwick: Meeting needs in a new community A summary of three studies commissioned by JRF. The studies reviewed research into meeting the needs in a new development of three different groups: children, young people and families; older people; disabled people. Download a PDF version of the summary here.

	New Osbaldwick Community Facilities Audit Mandy Bryce and Sue Herrick This study reports on an audit of community facilities in the area of Osbaldwick, York. The JRF wants to ensure that the proposed new development of New Osbaldwick is integrated into the surrounding local, communities and to maximise the use of existing facilities. New facilities will be developed only where they contribute to the general needs of the area. This report summarises the key findings of the audit, and highlights some initial recommendations and discussion points. Download a PDF version of this report here.

	Planning for disabled people in New Osbaldwick Virginia Shaw, Mark Baggley and Alison Jarvis This study explores what might help disabled people settle most easily into a new community such as New Osbaldwick. It makes recommendations about the planning of New Osbaldwick in order to meet their needs. It argues that, taking an inclusive approach to all impairments, and using prevalence rates within the general population, assumptions can be made about the numbers of wheelchair users, people with learning difficulties and mental health problems and so on. This has implications for all aspects of life in New Osbaldwick – including buildings, information and community facilities. Download a PDF version of this report here. (0.10MB)

	Planning for older people in New Osbaldwick Nigel J.W. Appleton This study explores what might help older people settle most easily into a new community such as New Osbaldwick. The review identifies the characteristics of neighbourhoods and communities that will meet their needs, aspirations and priorities. It discusses the implications of their current and future requirements in the design and operation of their homes. The key issues are summarised in a set of recommendations for planners, developers and all those interested in the impact of an ageing society upon the provision of housing. Download a PDF version of this report here. (0.14MB)

	Planning for children, young people and young families in New Osbaldwick Nicola Madge with Ruth Dalzel and Steve Howell This study explores what might help children, young people and young families settle most easily into a new community such as New Osbaldwick. It looks at requirements relating to education, health, leisure and safety, and also considers measures to help young people and families feel positively about their locality, have a ‘voice’ in how it is organised and managed, and share a sense of really belonging. The report concludes with ten specific suggestions for New Osbaldwick Download a PDF version of this report here. (0.15MB)

	Planning and designing ‘home zones’ (Findings D41 - December 2001) This work looks at residential streets designed to put people before vehicles and draws out lessons from recent experience in the UK and longer experience in continental Europe. Read this Findings online here.