New Tech To Test Air Quality In Council Homes

Two councils are taking part in research as to how technology could be used in council properties to improve indoor environmental conditions and air quality. The aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of council tenants, and provide councils with real-time information to assist with property management and the provision of better quality accommodation. Led by Leeds City Council and the City of York Council, the project is part of the GovTech Catalyst programme, which enables public sector bodies to harness new and emerging technologies. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/new-tech-to-test-air-quality-in-council-homes/

Teachers And Other Key Workers Priced Out Of York

Teachers, young families and key workers are being prevented from coming to work and live in York because senior councillors are “failing” to deliver affordable homes, according to the Labour group. A spokesman for the Labour group said just 130 affordable homes have been built each year in recent years, when the city needs 573 built every year. They added that the council agreed plans for a development company in December but no progress had been made since. Labour Cllr Michael Pavlovic called in the decision on the development company at a scrutiny committee meeting. Read more on the York Press website.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/16589844.teachers-and-other-key-workers-priced-out-of-york-homes-claims/

London Employees In and Poorer Families Out Of York

People on lower incomes will be forced out of York and the city will become part of the London commuter belt unless solutions are found to its housing crisis, a packed meeting was told. John Hocking, executive director of Joseph Rowntree Housing Foundation, was speaking at a meeting hosted by York Social. Both YorSpace, a community housing initiative, and York Social urged the council to reconsider its approach to bids to buy council property to enable non commercial organisations to provide lower cost housing for local people. Mr Hocking said: "If York is going to grow, it needs the housing base which is going to support its growing workforce." Read more on The Press website.