Controversy as eco-friendly homes unveiled

1:11pm Friday 9th May 2008

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THIS is what the eco-friendly homes in a massive housing development on the outskirts of York could look like - and plans have been submitted to build three of them in the city.

The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT), which is to build the 540-home Derwenthorpe model village on land at Osbaldwick, has applied to City of York Council to build three prototype properties in New Earswick.

Under the two applications, the trust would build two detached homes on land to the west of Acacia Avenue, and one three-storey detached home on land between Chestnut Grove and Hawthorn Terrace South.

In a statement, Richards Partington Architects said the prototypes would allow for the testing of innovative construction methods which were required in order to achieve the high environmental performance targets that have been set for the Derwenthorpe site.

They said it was fitting the homes should be located in New Earswick because they had a character that was in keeping with the rest of the village.

The architects said that, in terms of environmental sustainability, the homes were underpinned by three key principles: maximising the amount of energy a house can get from its external environment, high levels of thermal insulation, and good levels of air-tightness with controlled ventilation.

They said one of the key elements of the homes was that they would have a living space designed to benefit from the heating potential of winter sunshine. Meanwhile, local residents have objected to both planning applications.

Lindsey Houston, of Ivy Place, whose homes surround the green where the three-storey detached home would be built, has been nominated as spokeswoman for the residents of Ivy Place and Station Avenue.

She said: "The house doesn't really relate to the existing two-storey terraced cottage style of the surrounding housing.

"Privacy of many of the existing residents will be compromised by this construction - it's going to be a three-storey dwelling overlooking the existing two-storey houses."

Jane Clarkson, of Willow Bank, said two of the homes would overlook where she lived.

She said: "The ethos of Joseph Rowntree was to build a village for his workers providing them with quality of life, therefore the green areas are so important and shouldn't be built on."

Nigel Ingram, director of development and property services at JRHT, said: "The intention of these planning applications was for the trust to get views on our proposals from residents, the parish council and City of York Council planners during their period of statutory consultation.

"We are seriously considering these views and will be responding within the next few days.

"The image used in the design and access statements - part of the planning applications - was included for illustrative purposes only. The colour and materials shown in the image would not necessarily be those that would be used."