A YORK-BASED charity has announced plans to spend £37 million on new developments in York.

Over the next three years, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) will spend £14 million on new services for older people at Red Lodge in New Earswick and £23 million in developing Derwenthorpe, which will eventually have 540 new homes to rent, part-own or buy.

As part of its strategic plan for 2012 to 2014, the Clifton-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has also pledged to develop York as an inspiring example of a “dementia-friendly city” where people with dementia play a central role in informing plans. Red Lodge will be central to these plans.

A spokesman for JRF said: “We are proud of our heritage and history in York and we are keen to continue to improve life for people in York through our research, through our housing and care services and through the projects we fund from the York Grants Committee.”

The plans form part of a scheme for JRF and JRHT together to invest £125 million in its projects, which will also include spending £30 million in service provision for older people, £43 million on new developments and up to £21 million for neighbourhood -based services across its operations.

The work at Red Lodge will see the accommodation being rebuilt and extra care services for older people in New Earswick developed through funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

In the next three years, JRF also plans to lead the way in developing and evaluating examples of neighbourhoods where people feel less lonely, based on its practical work in York and Bradford, and to develop neighbourhoods which are good places to live for all generations, based on its work in New Earswick specifically but also Bradford and York, the report states.

JRF is dedicated to continuing the work of York philanthropist Joseph Rowntree. Every year, the foundation spends millions of pounds on national research into the causes of poverty, deprivation and social inequality and research into supporting an ageing society and resilient communities.

Its sister organisation, JRHT, develops and manages housing schemes that are designed to serve as a model for the way we can and should live.

The Derwenthorpe development, one of York’s largest ever housing developments is being constructed on one side of The Village in Osbaldwick.

It has been criticised by some campaigners angered over issues including loss of open space and extra traffic on local roads.

Coun James Alexander, Labour leader of City of York Council, said: “The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has played a significant part in shaping, developing and building York’s communities over the years. So I welcome their new strategic plan for 2012-2014, which outlines their future plans for our city.

“Their pledge to invest up to £43m on new developments, including Derwenthorpe, in and around York, will benefit existing and future generations.”