Housing Delivery Programme wins top planning excellence award

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) awarded its Silver Jubilee Cup to City of York Council's  Housing Delivery Programme on 30 November. The programme involved residents at the very start of the planning process with Stirling Prize-winning architects Mikhail Riches.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) awarded its Silver Jubilee Cup to City of York Council's  Housing Delivery Programme on 30 November. The programme involved residents at the very start of the planning process with Stirling Prize-winning architects Mikhail Riches.

It was applauded by the RTPI as “the most outstanding of all the winning projects. The scheme demonstrates how the UN Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved in practice to create mixed and inclusive communities that promote well-being and healthy lifestyles.”

Earlier in the year, the Housing Delivery Programme was submitted by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, who provided planning advice and support throughout the programme. The programme won the Yorkshire regional award for Best Plan. It was then automatically entered into the national competition to compete against all other regional winners.

The plans include 112 Passivhaus homes at Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme which will be 60% affordable, and at the 83 Passivhaus homes at Ordnance Lane. As well as actively tackling the climate crisis, the developments incorporate intergenerational and multigenerational homes in order to promote social inclusion to reduce isolation and loneliness.

Work has begun at the Clifton site, it’s just started on the Heworth development and will begin next year at Fishergate.

Victoria Hills, RTPI Chief Executive, said: "It was fantastic to see York’s innovative Housing Delivery Programme win this year’s Jubilee Cup."

“By creating a strong local plan, the City of York Council is not only improving the lives of future generations within the area, but is addressing the current, real-life challenges faced by communities today.”