THE first tenants have moved into a new council housing development on the site of a former York pub.

Fourteen apartments have been built by local contractor Woodhouse Barry on land in Lindsey Avenue, where the Pack of Cards pub used to stand.

City of York Council says the building was on the market for 18 months but no interest had been expressed in running it as a public house, or in purchasing it as a commercial development opportunity.

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New residents Kirsty Douthwaite and Matt Arnold. Picture: Frank Dwyer

It was then purchased by the York-based developer RHW Developments, with the acquisition price paid by the council in stages during construction work, and the new building has now almost been completed.

"The purchase of the whole block has been completed by the council’s housing department in the first such arrangement of its kind in the city," said a spokeswoman. "The first tenants moved into the apartments on Monday."

Cllr David Carr, executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods, said that as specified by the council, the flats had been built to high energy efficiency levels – Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

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FLASHBACK: The old Pack of Cards pub, which was flattened to make way for the houses

He said they had also been built to Lifetime Homes’ standards to ensure they could be easily modified as tenants’ needs changed.

"With easy access to shops, bus routes, medical services and a Post Office, the homes are prioritised for people with good tenancy records and tenants aged over 55 wishing to downsize thereby freeing up larger homes for growing families," he said.

The spokeswoman said tenants would also be moving into eight new two-bedroom apartments in Hewley Avenue in coming weeks and, early in the new year, work would start on eight new homes in Chaloners Road, which would provide two houses and six apartments.

Construction of eight apartments at Fenwick Street would also begin next year, as well as six houses in Pottery Lane.

She added that for information and advice from the council on housing options, people should visit www.york.gov.uk/housingoptions or call 01904 554500.