THERE’S a spirit of optimism running through York’s property market at the moment – with a number of exciting projects springing to life in the city centre and a campaign under way to open up previously empty space for residential use.

As we report on the front page of Property Press today, a luxury apartment development is about to breathe fresh air into what has been a fairly run down part of the city in Piccadilly.

Of course, with prices starting at £250,000 for a one-bedroom flat, Piccadilly Lofts might not be within everyone’s price bracket. Which is why another quite different but equally praiseworthy project just down the road is to be welcomed.

Swan Court is an ambitious refurbishment of the old White Swan Hotel, sitting in a key location at the top of Piccadilly.

A problematic eyesore for some considerable time, the building has been left empty – save for an occasional swathe of squatters – for more than 30 years.

Now, in an initiative led by City of York Council, the hotel building has been completely gutted and refurbished and is to provide 18 city centre apartments.

And, what’s more, the aim is to ensure those homes go to local people at affordable rents… The flats – the building work for which has been done by R H Fullwood and Co – are leased by the Tees Valley Housing Association and will be managed by City of York Council.

They will be let at 80 per cent of market price levels which will see average rents being around £104 per week for each of the 16 one-bedroom flats while a pair of two-bedroomed flats will have rentals of around £111 and £157 per week.

Applicants must be working and be earning more than £15,000 per year – but not much more (preference will be given to local people who have income and saving levels which mean they would not easily be able to buy a home in York).

Because of the nature of the development, families with children will not be eligible – and no pets are allowed.

Subject to meeting those criteria, prospective tenants are likely to be moving into an enviable city-centre lifestyle.

The flats are right in the heart of the city, looking out over Piccadilly and Parliament Street, with all the shops, bars, cafes and restaurants literally right outside your front door.

And while these are low-cost rental apartments, they are certainly not low-quality homes – far from it.

The developers were set the goal of retaining the character of the 100-year-old building, while providing contemporary comforts and eco-friendly qualities to ensure low running costs and fuel bills. That, say the Fullwood team, is a “challenging” task but one which they are confident of achieving.

With the refurbishment now almost complete and the marketing of the apartments begun, applicants will soon be able to see for themselves just how well that work has been carried out.

But this could be just the beginning of the plan to bring new life to old buildings… The White Swan is a ground-setting and major part of a campaign by City of York Council to revitalise residential life in the city centre.

As reported in the news section of The Press, the council wants to see unused space becoming flats or small offices and has embarked on a programme of encouraging property-owners to help achieve that aim.

This follows a council-funded survey by the North of England Civic Trust which found that as many as 800 apartments could be created in empty spaces above shops in the city centre.

Cllr Tracey Simpson-Laing, cabinet member for housing, says: “We ask anyone considering creating homes in existing, unused buildings, to contact us so we can work together to bring much-needed good quality homes and generate new income streams from rent.”

And, she added: “An increased residential presence can help diversify the city centre economy and reduce car dependence in the centre of York.”

And there could well be financial support available to help with the transformation.

Jimm Reed, of local affordable housing experts CoHo Ltd, says funding is available for conversion works under the Empty Homes scheme.

“We just need to get the message out there to agents and landlords that these unused spaces can be used,” he said.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• THE White Swan flats are leased by Tees Valley Housing Group and will be managed by City of York Council. Because of the reduced rent, applicants must be employed and income limits will apply. Anyone interested in applying to rent a flat should contact the council’s housing registrations team at Housing.registrations@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 554044.

• YOU can also check out the Swan Court development application rules at
york.gov.uk/info/200478/council_housing/272/applying_for_a_property/3

• ANYONE owning or managing property in the centre of York who would like to know more about the Empty Homes scheme and how to access funding should phone Jimm Reed at CoHo on 07730 780686 or email jimm@coho-ltd.co.uk