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£2.2 million affordable housing investment in Barnsley

Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association (LYHA) is to build 27 homes for affordable rent in a £2.2 million investment in property in Barnsley.

The project represents the first time LYHA, which is based in Headingley and owns and manages over 1,200 properties across Yorkshire, has acquired land for development and then designed and managed the build.

LYHA previously built homes on land already in its ownership or acquired S106 properties through private developers.

LYHA worked in partnership with Barnsley Council on the acquisition of the land having become one of the Council’s preferred development partners in 2012.

Yorkshire-based companies have been recruited for the project including lead contractor, Halifax-based Southdale, who will transform the site using local labour.

Leeds-based architects Acanthus WSM has designed the scheme include enhanced architectural features whilst remaining in keeping with the area. Cost consultancy for the project was provided by dba Management Consultancy of Doncaster.

Speaking about the development in Barnsley, Lisa Pickard, LYHA’s chief executive, said: ““This project is exciting for us on many levels representing the first time we have undertaken the full build process on newly acquired land in our history and we plan to continue to grow our business in this way in our core areas of Leeds, Whitby and Barnsley.

“This will be supplemented with S106 properties from other developers in the right locations.”

Trudie McCormick, North East region MD at Halifax-based Southdale, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the project, which will have a positive impact in the area with the creation of affordable family homes.

“The scheme is an exciting and significant one as it is our first with Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association, and the team are looking forward to starting work on site very soon.”

Matt Gladstone, Executive Director of Development, Environment and Culture at Barnsley Council said: “It is great that LYHA are choosing to invest in Barnsley; creating employment and training opportunities for local people and assisting us to deliver much needed affordable homes.”

The project has been part funded with a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .