ECO-FRIENDLY affordable homes are to be built on a troubled York allotment site.

City of York councillors last night supported plans for 20 three-bedroom family homes at Danbury Drive Allotments, in Acomb, with associated parking and gardens.

The properties will be built by Tees Valley Housing Group and half of the current allotments will be retained.

It follows a successful £1,183,506 bid to the Housing Corporation in April.

Final planning consent will be granted by council officers once a final agreement is reached on the fate of two trees at the site and whether to introduce a second access point for the allotments.

Group director of developments Martin Hawthorn told the meeting that the timber-frame properties would be as energy-efficient as possible and they had talked to local people throughout the design process.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of the consultation programme. The residents helped design the scheme and we have been very open to their criticism and their comments," he said.

Mr Hawthorn added that they would be "positively encouraging" people who move into the houses to take an allotment.

Carr Lane Residents Association strongly support the scheme and has been involved in consultation on the design for the last two years.

Chairman Frank Charters said: "This development would be welcome due to a lack of affordable housing and would reduce vandalism in the area.

Acomb Councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing also spoke in favour of the project.

"It has taken two years, but I think it has been worth it," she said.

Executive member for planning and transport, Ann Reid, told the west area committee: "I think this is an excellent scheme. I suspect we will almost be looking at it as a blueprint for elsewhere. It is great to be able to say to another developer 'If they can do it, you can do it'."

Councillors deferred a decision on introduce £15,000 worth of kissing gates to Hob Moor pedestrian and cycle track to prevent abuse of Hob Moor by motorcyclists.

The committee felt proposals to replace existing barriers with the gates would impede use by cyclists while at the same time failing to tackle the antisocial behaviour of some motorcyclists.

They asked officers to provide more information about the extent of the problem, and possible alternative remedies, before a decision was made.

Updated: 12:58 Friday, August 20, 2004