Planning permission has been granted for 165 homes in York, of which 40% will be affordable, plus an 80-bed care home.

The scheme for Lowfield Green in the west of the city consists of 96 high quality two and three-storey houses, 26 bungalows and 18 apartments aimed at people over 55. Whilst the affordable homes will be a mixture of council housing and low cost home ownership tenures.

Cllr Helen Douglas, said: “This is the largest single, affordable development this council will build in a generation and frees up a site that’s been underused for a decade.

“Providing 40% affordable housing on this site is part of a wider ambition of developing 550 new homes on council land in the next five years, together with bringing forward plans for York Central and the wider development ambitions set out in the Local Plan.

“We’re aiming to be on site at Lowfield early next year, to fulfill the urgent need for good quality new and affordable mixed tenure homes in York.”

The plans also include an 80-bed care home which supports the city’s ambition to provide high-quality accommodation for the city’s significant aging population.

There will be over 1.5 acres of open space, featuring a central recreational area open to all residents. The community will also be served by a building to be used for public services.