FIFTY-FIVE new homes have been built on the site of a former York school to help combat the city’s chronic housing shortage.

The mix of two and three-bedroom affordable homes has been constructed at the former Our Lady’s RC Primary School in Acomb for social landlord, Yorkshire Housing.

The school, which was built in the 1960s, closed in 2012 when it merged with English Martyrs RC Primary School to form Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School, based at a £5.75 million site on Hamilton Drive.

The new homes have been designed by architects Brewster Bye, with a mix of terraced and semi-detached houses. Many homes will be rented out by Yorkshire Housing to people based on an assessment of need, but some are also for sale.

Mark Henderson, of Brewster Bye Architects, said they had all been designed to an exceptional standard.

“Each property has achieved Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 by using a ‘fabric first’ solution,” he said. “Residents could therefore benefit from lower fuel bills, without having to make any lifestyle changes.

“In addition, we wanted to make sure that the layout of the development complemented the surrounding environment and this has certainly been achieved, with the scheme sitting comfortably within the existing streetscape.

“We have created an overall mews like character to the development and there is a real sense of place to the scheme. Most of the of the homes take advantage of the rural views and the majority have attractive, spacious and private south facing rear gardens.”

Yorkshire Housing project manager Jonathan Turner said the development would help to address the shortage of homes in the area, adding: “Brewster Bye’s design is not only energy-efficient, appealing to the eye and fits in well with the area, but it’s also very safe and secure thanks to the design of the layout of the scheme.”

The development ran into problems in July last year when it emerged some houses were built in the wrong position and the road lay-out that was built did not match the approved plans.

Yorkshire Housing had to submit a revised planning application, which was approved in October.