Hull City Council has welcomed confirmation from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) that the city will receive £980,000 from round two of the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) to build 99 new homes on the site of the former Dane Park School, and a small area of open space on Feldane. All of the homes will be for rent from Hull City Council.
The submission to the BLRF for funding was made jointly by Hull City Council and One Public Estate (OPE). The Fund is part of a Government initiative to build 6,000 homes on brownfield sites around the country.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing said, “During one of the most acute housing shortages for decades, and with more and more people at risk of becoming homeless, it is reassuring to know the money is in place for what will be one of the city’s biggest new social housing developments for many years. The 99 new homes on the Dane Park development already have planning permission and are an important part of Hull’s Housing Growth programme. I look forward to work starting on-site.”
The proposals are to build:
- a mix of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom properties to meet local housing needs from small to large families
- extensive landscaping and new areas of public open space
- energy efficient homes
- dedicated areas of car parking
- a safe, welcoming, and attractive environment
It is also proposed that the homes will be built to high sustainability levels for energy and environmental design. To achieve this, construction will be through an innovative ‘fabric first approach’ with levels of insulation which exceed current industry standards.
This will contribute to reducing carbon emissions and create warmer homes which are more economical to heat. As part of the council’s mission to become carbon neutral, Air Source Heat Pumps as well as integrated PV Panels in the roofs of each home will be used for heating and hot water.
With 95% of the city being at risk from flooding, a key feature of the Dane Park development is flood alleviation. Working closely with Yorkshire Water, the council are installing Sustainable Urban Development Systems, known as SuDS, on the site which will incorporate natural filter strips in the highway, as well as having areas of permeable highways to improve drainage.
Accessibility is an important feature in the new homes’ design, and approximately half the homes will exceed current UK standards. There will be doorways wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair and features such as lever handles on doors, all of which help people to live independently for longer and reduce the need for adaptations in the future.
