Joseph Rowntree Foundation

For immediate release: Thursday 10 May 2007

Planning permission granted for ‘Derwenthorpe’ - new community east of York

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) welcomes today’s announcement that the Secretary of State has agreed to its plans to build 540 homes to the east of York. The new community of Derwenthorpe will be developed by the JRF with its partner housing association, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT).

Julia Unwin, Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said:

“Homes for families in a safe, environmentally friendly and neighbourly community is what we and our partners, the City of York Council, have been working towards. Today’s announcement brings it a step closer.  We now look forward to working closely with local residents and groups to ensure that the wider community can benefit from Derwenthorpe too.”

At least 40 per cent of the new homes planned will be well within the reach of households on average incomes, with 135 homes to rent, 81 for part-ownership and homes for sale at varying prices, together creating a truly mixed income community.  Set in 18 acres of parkland, with ponds, mature and newly planted trees and shrubs, cycle paths, playgrounds and wildlife conservation areas, the design will be based around Home Zones, giving people priority over cars.

Julia Unwin added, “All the homes will benefit from high quality design and environmental standards. The JRF hopes that Derwenthorpe will be a beacon for York and a model of excellence for the whole country.”

In September 2005, the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber decided that Derwenthorpe’s planning position should be determined by a Public Inquiry. The Inquiry opened at The Guildhall in York on 13 June 2006 and lasted six weeks.

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. It supports a research and development programme that seeks to understand the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.
  2. The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust is a charity and registered social landlord with housing and care schemes in York, Yorkshire and the North East. These are of a developmental nature, demonstrating new forms of tenure, meeting special needs and exploring new features of design. Both the JRF and the JRHT share the same board of trustees and staff.
  3. Development projects currently being undertaken by the JRHT include a Care Village of 242 homes in Hartlepool, an ExtraCare housing scheme of 69 homes in Scarborough, and a six home sustainable development at the heart of New Earswick, York, known as Elm Tree Mews.
  4. Joseph Rowntree, the successful York businessman who built up the cocoa and confectionery business which bore his name, began developing a ‘model village’ to the north of York in 1902. New Earswick has since expanded into a thriving community of 1,000 homes, managed by the JRHT.

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