More than £4 million allocated from Mayoral Investment Fund

Affordable homes projects and local authority infrastructure schemes are to benefit from more than £4 million of mayoral funding.

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith is utilising the Mayoral Investment Fund to support schemes across the region.Funding allocations were approved today (6) at a meeting of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which included two schemes led by North Yorkshire Council.

A project to provide a new harbour boat hoist in Scarborough has been allocated £700,000 and an electric vehicle charging infrastructure improvements programme will receive £175,000. 

Improved infrastructure created by the Scarborough harbour boat hoist would safeguard 15 jobs, improve business supply chains and enable increased days at sea by the fishing fleet. Improvements to electric vehicle charging infrastructure would see the replacement of 37 charging points in the Hambleton area, and 13 in the Craven area. In Hambleton, the previous contractor/supplier has gone into liquidation, and this project will ensure that public facilities are brought back into service, in the shortest possible time, with the latest technology. In Craven, the contractor has withdrawn from public infrastructure to focus on home charging, but the charging points cannot be transferred to another supplier therefore need replacement with current technology.

In addition, appraisal work will take place to consider funding two further North Yorkshire Council schemes - Harrogate A61 major junction improvements and Selby Station gateway contribution - and three projects from City of York Council. These are: Movement and Place Transport Study, Our City Centre Regeneration and Cultural Passport for Young People Programme.

The Combined Authority approved Mayoral Investment Fund support for three York and North Yorkshire Brownfield Housing Fund schemes. A total of £3.36 million will be allocated to: Lowfield Lane phase two, York; Ordnance Lane, York and Neville House, Gargrave. This will support the building of 181 homes in total, all of which are affordable. Money from the Mayoral Investment Fund is in addition to £12.7million already secured for the York and North Yorkshire Brownfield Housing Fund from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

At the same meeting, portfolio holders for housing and transport were confirmed. Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, is housing portfolio holder, with Cllr Pete Kilbane, deputy leader at City of York Council, portfolio holder for transport. 

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “I’m pleased that, as a Combined Authority, we are in a position to enable important projects right across our region. We’re using devolved funds to make a real difference. In this case, supporting key infrastructure projects, which support our economic and net zero ambitions, and another round of funding for affordable housing. Creating affordable homes will help us to reduce inequalities, raise living standards and create stronger communities.”

 Cllr Les said: “The diverse range of schemes which have been given funding today 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. 
“There are economic benefits, such as the funding for the boat hoist in Scarborough, while also making sure that we can keep North Yorkshire moving as funding is potentially going to be agreed at a later date for projects including the A61 improvements in Harrogate and the Gateway scheme at Selby station. 

“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.
“I have also taken on the role of the housing portfolio for the combined authority, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to make sure that communities across the region have homes that they can afford so that they have the opportunity to live and work here.”  

Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said: “This funding and the decisions we’re taking as a Combined Authority demonstrate the huge value of our membership, bringing tangible benefits to our communities already through increased delivery of affordable housing at schemes like Lowfield in Acomb and Ordnance Lane in Fulford. 

“Additionally, the Combined Authority today agreed to undertake appraisal work around potential funding in the future for York’s Movement and Place Plan. It’s crucial we work with the Combined Authority to plan how people move around as our city grows, helping us tackle congestion and improve air quality. We also agreed to explore the prospect of support for the regeneration of York city centre in the near future.  As a major tourist destination, any help in attracting visitors to York helps the city in its role as a central driver of regional economic growth. 

“But we’re keen to show the Combined Authority is not just about physical improvements and will be considering funding in the future for people-focussed initiatives too. I’m pleased with the progress we’re making but there’s much more to come”.