FURTHER to Mr Crowe's letter (November 3), the figure of 190 publicly-subsidised 'affordable' homes planned for Derwenthorpe represents more than 35 per cent of the total development.
It compares favourably with the 25 per cent target for new developments set out in the city of York's current planning policy.
Mr Crowe's suggestion of a figure of 75-80 per cent for affordable housing does not take into account key considerations, including the evidence that creating an imbalance of tenants and owners does not lead to a sustainable neighbourhood in the long term. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation wants this new community to thrive from a social, environmental and economic perspective: hence the proposal for a balanced mix of tenures.
Readers can rest assured that any surplus that the foundation is able to generate from the development will put back into the scheme, principally to further increase the number of affordable homes.
Nigel Ingram,
Director of Development and Property Services,
Joseph Rowntree Foundation,
The Homestead,
Water End, York.
Updated: 09:37 Thursday, November 11, 2004
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