A CHARITY has thrown down the gauntlet to architects, developers and surveyors to design and build inspiring, but affordable, homes for 21st century York.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is behind the Centenary Competition and hopes to use the winning entry for a development of about six homes within its "model" village of New Earswick.

Land next to New Earswick Folk Hall has been earmarked for what is seen as a prototype development. It will enable the JRF explore potential house designs for Derwenthorpe - the 540-home venture planned on the east side of the city.

Organisers are not looking for pioneering housing designs that prove to be unworkable in practice. The competition aims to achieve a sustainable and affordable mix of houses and flats for sale and rent.

Through the venture, the JRF wants to make a similar contribution to suburban housing to meet the needs of a new century as it did with New Earswick. The garden village was designed 100 years ago for Joseph Rowntree by Parker and Unwin with the designs and layout proving popular and influential.

Nigel Ingram, director of development and property services with JRF, said: "In 1905 they used the words cheap cottages - now we use affordable. There's no point building something that can't be replicated because it is expensive.

"Sustainability and affordability are at the heart of what we are trying to achieve as well as something aesthetically pleasing."

Lord Richard Best, JRF director, said the challenge would be to apply good design to relatively inexpensive, affordable homes.

"The Foundation can lay some claim to being a godparent of liveable suburbs since our village of New Earswick was a precursor to garden communities in Letchworth and Hampstead.

"We hope our competition can make a useful contribution to good suburban design at the start of a new century."

Expressions of interest are invited from teams of architects/ quantity surveyors/ developers with experience in the design and build of medium density residential developments.

Contenders should apply for an information pack from the Foundation, with expressions of interest lodged by March 31.

Four finalists will be chosen on April 15 by an expert panel of judges.

The finalists will each receive an award of £10,000. Judges meet on July 15 to choose the winning entry.

For further details see www.jrf.org.uk/housingandcare/suburbanhousing/

Updated: 10:57 Monday, March 14, 2005