The City of York Council has announced a proposal this February to build 93 new affordable homes at the Castle Mills site in York, North Yorkshire, to provide better quality housing for residents on lower incomes.
The 93 new flats will be split into 56 homes for social rent and 37 for shared ownership. This development marks a shift in policy, as the site was previously intended for luxury apartments but will now be used entirely for affordable housing.
The project is expected to cost approximately £33.8 million and will be funded by council investment, external grants, and money from the sale of other homes. Building on this land between Piccadilly and the River Foss is more expensive than usual because the site needs cleaning and requires special measures to prevent flooding.
Alongside the city centre flats, the council also plans to improve 61 utility buildings and add more spaces at Gypsy and Traveller sites across the city. This part of the proposal is designed to address historical issues with the quality of accommodation for these local communities.
Council leaders, including Cllr Michael Pavlovic, will present these plans to an Executive meeting on 3 March 2026. If the plans go ahead, the new homes will be built to high energy-efficiency standards to help keep heating costs low for future tenants.
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