PLANS to build affordable and supported housing on the site of a former council-run care home in Gargrave are likely to be submitted 'early next year' says North Yorkshire Council.

The development in Neville Crescent will be built on the site of Neville House elderly persons' home, which closed in the autumn of last year. Its closure was put down to its condition and the cost of ongoing maintenance, of around £70,000 per year.

At the time of its closure, the home had fewer than six residents, who were moved to Ashfield care home in Skipton, and 26 members of staff, who were deployed to other council-run care homes.

The housing project, the first new homes to be built by a council in the Craven area for several years, last week was allocated £224,000 from the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire's Mayoral Investment Fund. It was one of three brownfield development sites in the county to receive a combined £3.36m. 

North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of community development, Nic Harne, said: “We are pleased to have secured this funding which will allow us to progress the development of the site on Neville Crescent. Plans for the future development of the site are under way with a view to developing both affordable and supported housing.

“There will be a pre-planning consultation undertaken with the local community prior to a planning application being submitted – this is likely to be in early 2025.”

In addition to funding for housing, another Craven project to receive funding from the mayoral fund was the replacement of 13 electric vehicle charging points.

Councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council and newly elected housing portfolio holder of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “The diverse range of schemes which have been given funding clearly shows just how wide the benefits are of having more decision-making powers on a local level with millions of pounds of additional funding from the Government.

“One of the most pressing issues which needs to be addressed in York and North Yorkshire is the lack of affordable housing. The funding that has been provided today for brownfield sites will help deliver nearly 200 new homes all of which will be affordable."