Plans to sell council-owned homes deemed unviable for improvements - including in York’s Shambles - have been branded a fire sale of the city’s crown jewels. Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said selling five flats in Shambles and part of 22 The Avenue in Clifton would reduce affordable housing in costly parts of York. City of York Council’s housing lead Cllr Michael Pavlovic said Shambles flats had deteriorated and no affordable housing provider would take them, making their sale the most financially viable option.
It comes as councillors ruled putting the five one-bed flats in 28 and 45-47 Shambles and part of 22 The Avenue on the market did not breach council policies. The council’s Executive agreed to sell the properties on the open market in July as part of a number of decisions regarding sites earmarked for housing in York. They included disposing of a plot in Acomb’s Lowfield Green and Morrell House, in Burton Stone Lane, and continuing discussions to develop the Castle Mills site, all for affordable housing.
A council report stated it came amid a lack of private rental accommodation locally and York experiencing some of the highest house price increases in the country in recent years. It added 22 The Avenue, a vacant two-storey detached house built around 1920, was in a poor condition and required a full refurbishment, meaning affordable housing in it is unviable. The building was used as accommodation for mental health assessments and care residents until 2019 when it was vacated due to it becoming unsuitable for operation use.
A modern annex at the property is currently occupied and is not set to be sold. The council’s Corporate Services, Climate Change and Scrutiny Management Committee heard on Monday, August 12 that Shambles flats did not meet accessiblity and other requirements. Councillors also heard their historic nature made it unviable to improve them, expensive to live in and they were exposed to noise and smells from the street.
But Cllr Ayre told councillors that it would see existing affordable housing sold to the highest bidder. He added the case for selling the properties - that it presented the best value for money - had not been made thoroughly enough and went against Labour’s affordable housing commitments. The opposition leader said: “This is nothing short of a fire sale of council assets, including some of the city’s crown jewels.
“Given the location of The Shambles flats we all know what they will be used for, this is a conscious decision to flip affordable homes into luxury flats. “We’re not a private developer, we’re a local authority, there is social value in having somewhere in the city centre where people can afford to live.” Housing Executive member Cllr Pavlovic said the decision would allow the council to raise money it could invest in good quality, new affordable housing.
He added an affordable housing provider had handed Shambles flats back to the council because it could not viably rent them out. Cllr Pavlovic said: “No one wants to take these properties on and it would cost a fortune to redevelop them. The Avenue building has been allowed to deteriorate for five years.
“The money that we receive from selling them will deliver far more affordable housing elsewhere. “The council has a responsibility to get the best value for money given its financial position.”.
