HOUSING campaigners who are working on plans for an old school site in Acomb are holding public meetings for people nearby.

Community housing group YorSpace is in talks with City of York Council over the Lowfield site, and is hoping to take on part of the land for a co-owned housing project.

Now it is planning two meetings to give people chance to learn more about co-housing and mutual home ownership and the early plans for Lowfield, and meet the people behind them.

Susanna Bird is one of the campaigners involved. She said: “We want to talk to local people and explain who we are, what community-led housing is, and what we are hoping to achieve.

“We also want to hear from local people about the development and what they would like to see at Lowfield Green.”

YorSpace has previously bid for land at former council care homes Oliver House in Bishophill and Grove House in the Groves, but both times lost out to commercial developers.

The group started talking to the council about Lowfield Green last year, and has now won funding to develop its plans with a local architect and project manager.

Susanna said they are hoping for around 15 to 20 homes on the site, but are still in early stages and do not yet have a formal deal with City of York.

The land YorSpace could take on is only a small portion of the council’s wider site which could include a new care home, housing, allotments and health or police facilities.

YorSpace’s first public meeting will take place on Saturday, March 11 from 3pm to 5pm at Foxwood Community Centre; to be followed with another on Wednesday, March 15 from 7pm to 9pm at Chill Cafe, 8a Front Street in Acomb.

Another recent development has seen YorSpace become a Community Benefit Society (CBS).

Susanna added: “A CBS as a different structure to a Community Interest Company, more of a cooperative structure, but while most co-ops are for the benefit of members a CBS is outward looking and for the benefit of the community.”

Anyone interested in getting involved in the housing project can now join the CBS, and for £2 will gain a share in the group and be able to vote for board members. More information is at available at www.yorspace.org.