A landmark housing scheme in York is set to get ministerial approval tomorrow when Government Housing Minster John Healey visits York Housing Association offices in the city. Mr Healey is in York to learn more about a development of eight properties in Boundary Close, in Huntington, which have been built to a high eco-friendly standard, pioneered in Germany and known as ‘Passivhaus'.

He will be joined by Labour's housing spokesperson, Coun. Tracey Simpson-Laing, a long time campaigner for more sustainably designed, affordable housing in the city.

She said:

"I'm delighted to welcome John Healey to York and to see how Government money is contributing to such innovative schemes as Boundary Close. The council's partnership with York Housing Association has made this forward-thinking development a view into the future, with houses benefiting from much thicker walls, and which are much more air tight. The environmental benefits are numerous as a result, and which will lead to much lower energy bills for tenants".

Mr Healey and Coun. Simpson-Laing will be welcomed to York Housing Association's offices at Monks Cross to view the scheme by Christine Storrs, its Chief Executive. The German Passivehaus model relies upon a vast reduction in air leakage from properties, with Boundary Close houses achieving air leakage rates of 1.58 cubic metres per square metre per hour.

This can be set against a usual range of between 2.5 and 10.0 m3/m2hr in air leakage, making the benefits obvious.

Coun. Simpson-Laing said continued Government investment in housing was critical to the city, saying:

"We have recently been successful in securing more Government money for council housing in the Clifton area which is a welcome boost to affordable housing in the city. Housing Associations are playing an invaluable role in delivering quality schemes such as Boundary Close, while this Government's continued support of those in need shows that it really cares about the housing needs of all York residents, not just some".