New £5.7m development of affordable homes

Construction of a new affordable housing development in South Yorkshire has begun.

 The honour of breaking the first earth, at the site off Catherine's Walk in Athersley South, went to Mike Gaskell, chair of the board at Leeds and Yorkshire Housing, and Joanna Chambers, head of home and growth.  

They were accompanied by Coun Robert Frost, cabinet support member for Place at Barnsley Council, Nathan Brough, regional director for construction company ENGIE's places and communities division; and Richard Panter from Homes England.

This is the largest new build development undertaken by Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association for many years.

Once completed, in autumn 2019, it will provide 54 affordable homes for families and older people in an area of acute housing need. 

The £5.7 million development will be part funded by a £2 million Homes England grant and will comprise 40 houses, eight apartments and six bungalows.

Five of the homes will be available for shared ownership and the remainder for rent. The development will take approximately 15 months to complete.

It is situated in the middle of an existing housing estate, next to South Athersley Primary School.  LYHA is paying a contribution to the school as part of planning approval and is involving local school children in the project.

Joanna Chambers said: 'We have asked  children to come up with new street names which have now been suggested to Barnsley Council. They have also been creating fantastic '˜Danger '“ Keep Out' signs to go around perimeter fencing.

 'Leeds based architects, Acanthus WSM, have created a very attractive scheme with interesting elevational treatments, and I'm sure the new homes will prove very popular.

'Anyone interested in finding out more about shared ownership properties should [email protected].'

Nathan Brough said: 'These new homes will provide a significant boost to Barnsley by helping to meet the borough's housing needs, as well as employment and training opportunities.'

Coun Robert Frost said: 'It's fantastic to see this development underway.

'Barnsley Council has ambitious plans for future housing in the borough. This is a major development in an area where additional housing is much needed,  and by working in partnership with Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association we are able to deliver the highest quality, affordable homes.'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹