YORK has been awarded more than £2.5m to build almost 100 homes and transform a vacant, dilapidated library.

The windfall, announced today, will be used to build 97 homes on underused brownfield sites to help local people and families get on the property ladder.

City of York Council confirmed that the grant funding would be used to deliver new homes, open spaces, community facilities and new workplaces at its Ordnance Lane project.

From the pot, £211,000 will also be used to support self and custom-build projects, such as the former Tang Hall Library which has been empty for three years, and the Chaloners Road garage court sites.

The old Tang Hall library building which has been targeted by anti-social behaviour is set to become an affordable, custom-build development of six homes for disabled adults with live-in carer accommodation.

The funding comes from the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund in its mission to level up the country’s towns and cities.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove MP said: “Urban regeneration is central to levelling up the whole country and building new homes on neglected brownfield sites is a key part of this vision.

“I am delighted that, through our Brownfield Release Fund, York will receive more than £2.5 million to help deliver housing across the region.

“The Government is delivering the new homes the country needs while prioritising brownfield sites, to revitalise our much-loved towns and cities.”

Local councils are also being encouraged to bid for £20m to deliver further self and custom-build projects on brownfield land.

Councillor Denise Craghill, executive member for housing and safer communities, at York council, said: “Our Housing Delivery Programme is delivering spacious, accessible, adaptable and energy efficient homes on zero carbon sites which maximise good outdoor private and public space, community facilities and links with existing communities.

“With a minimum of 40 per cent affordable housing - and possibly higher – we are getting on with delivering new affordable homes and while setting a new standard for residential place-making in the city, which we hope will inspire others in the future.

“This grant funding will be used for the Ordnance Lane project to deliver new homes, open spaces, community facilities and new workplaces.

"The funding will also support self and community-build groups interested in developing the former Tang Hall Library and Chaloners Road garage court sites.

"These projects help us to empower our residents to deliver bespoke housing solutions which meet their needs.”

York councillors are set to discuss affordable housing in the city at an executive meeting on Thursday (October 14).

York council will be sharing an update on its Housing Delivery Programme, with the authority intending to start building the city’s first carbon zero neighbourhoods in 2022 as the next phase of the programme.

As previously reported, this includes new developments at Burnholme and Duncombe Barracks.

The Executive will also be asked to agree to the submission of a planning application for the site at Ordnance Lane and Hospital Fields Road.

A draft application has been prepared for 85 homes, 10 non-residential spaces including two communal spaces, two retail units, and six flexible spaces to be used as office, co-working, studio or maker spaces.

The report says the executive will also be asked to accept funding of more than £2.6m following the successful grant application under the Brownfield Land Release Fund.