Affordability progress snapshot
Our Equalities and Human Rights 'snapshot of progress' will be updated every 6 months to provide details of our activity, as we work to deliver the Council Plan; One City, for all.
For our core commitment to Affordability and tackling the cost-of-living crisis, we'll find new ways so everyone who lives here benefits from the success of the city, targeting our support at those who need it most, supporting communities to build on their own strengths and those of the people around them.
Priority actions
Find out more about progress on each priority action relating to affordability:
- Start the journey towards becoming an anti-poverty city within a decade, including supporting young people and families, reducing food insecurity and exploring the benefits of free school meals for all primary school children
- Create pathways to learning and skills development leading to good quality jobs and improved life chances
- Realise the economic opportunity provided by devolution, York Central and the bioeconomy
- Provide affordable transport for residents to access education, jobs, health and wellbeing support. Delivering fare concessions identified in the Bus Services Improvement Plan
- Increase the percentage of affordable homes (exploring opportunities through planning, travellers’ sites, community led projects, social housing, etc.) and seeking to exceed Planning policy on affordable homes
- Reduce energy consumption and generate more local sources of renewable energy
- Target a range of funding sources and service delivery to where they are most needed
Priority action: Start the journey towards becoming an anti-poverty city within a decade, including supporting young people and families, reducing food insecurity and exploring the benefits of free school meals for all primary school children.
Progress by March 2025:
- The council has approved a council funded free school meal pilot at Westfield Primary School. Building on this, the council has also supported the expansion of the initiative to include Burton Green and Fishergate Primary Schools - these additional pilots are funded via donations made to the ‘York Hungry Minds’ campaign. York Hungry Minds will also be delivering activities throughout the year to support the campaign
- Financial support was promoted to low income families
- A Food insecurity summit was held with partners and North Yorkshire Council to explore alternative food provision
- York Community Fund was officially launched on 18 July
- Approval given to distribution of Household Support Fund 6 grant to eligible residents: Decision to approve the Household Support Fund Scheme 6
- Household Support Fund Scheme 7 has been announced. The support will be provided through direct payments and a discretionary application process. The scheme is open to City of York residents aged 16 and over who have recourse to public funds and require urgent financial assistance during this period
Priority action: Create pathways to learning and skills development leading to good quality jobs and improved life chances.
Progress by March 2025:
- York Learning, the Council’s adult education learning and training organisation, won national recognition and renew it’s nationally-recognised quality mark. See: News story - Top marks to York Learning for national quality award
- York’s first hospitality and retail industry forum was held at the council’s West Offices. See: News story - York’s hospitality and retail sectors attend first industry forum
- In Partnership with NatWest, the Council facilitated the Empowering and Inspiring Women in Business event to celebrate female business leaders. See: News story - York set to celebrate female business leaders
- During National Apprenticeship Week, York promoted 'Skills for Life'. See: News story - York promotes ‘Skills For Life’ during National Apprenticeship Week
- Students in Year 11 learnt more about careers in the construction industry. See: News story - Local construction partnerships help York students build the future
- Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership held a webinar on NHS and Career Sector Careers Pathways; 'Careers in the Curriculum' was held - the session showed how careers can become a part of any lesson in the curriculum
- The Allied Health Professionals promoted careers in health and care to young people, teachers, careers staff and parents/carers with more information in the refreshed website
- £300,000 of apprenticeship levy transfer requests was provided to support new recruits and existing employees to develop their skills in York businesses
- Construction York skills initiative is now live and aims to equip York residents with the relevant skills, qualifications and experience to progress in construction and take advantage of the carbon reduction initiatives coming online in the city. York initiative to plug construction skills gaps
- The council launched the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Supported Internship Hub in Clifton, with implementation of the SEND Hub underway
Priority action: Realise the economic opportunity provided by devolution, York Central and the bioeconomy.
Progress by March 2025:
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was established in January 2024, with the mayoral elections taking place in May 2024, unlocking at least £540m of investment for the region
- The Economic Framework for York and North Yorkshire was approved at the Joint Committee and discussed at Scrutiny. See: Portable document format PDF) file - Agenda for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, 18 March 2024, from yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk
- Strategic developers, McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, have been selected by Homes England and Network Rail as their preferred developer partners for York Central, with a reserved matters planning application approved for Museum Square - a brand-new piece of public realm at York Central. See: A new space at the heart of the city, from the York Central website
- York Central has £132 million government investment secured to deliver key infrastructure, already underway
- A York pipeline of investible projects was approved by the Leader of the Council - this will form the basis of York’s bids into funding streams presented by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. A York pipeline of projects for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
- As of September 2024, York has already secured over £18 million in funding through York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for housing, net zero, transport, skills, regeneration, and cultural schemes
Priority action: Provide affordable transport for residents to access education, jobs, health and wellbeing support. delivering fare concessions identified in the Bus Services Improvement Plan.
Progress by March 2025:
- Bus concessions for children and young people were provided as part of the Bus Service improvement Plan, extending the offer to include 16 to 18 year-olds, almost doubled the number of £1 bus tickets sold per month. See: The £1 concession and free child travel have been extended until the end of March 2026
- The 250,000th reduced bus fare was issued in September 2024
- Residents along several bus routes in York will see new operators in September, following a competitive tender process to ensure the future running of key services
- The Local Transport Implementation Plan was approved by Executive in November 2024, and in December 2024, Executive also approved the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
Priority action: Increase the percentage of affordable homes (exploring opportunities through planning, travellers’ sites, community led projects, social housing, etc.) and seeking to exceed Planning policy on affordable homes.
Progress by March 2025:
- Executive approved the proposal to secure 100% affordable homes on council land. See: Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 16 November 2023 (Item 12)
- Executive approved an extra 16 low energy 100% affordable homes at the Ordnance Lane site. See: News story - More low-energy, affordable homes proposed for Ordnance Lane
- Lowfield Phase 2 and Ordnance Lane projects secured funding through the MCA’s Brownfield Housing Fund. Total funding received of just over £3 million. Brownfield Housing Fund - Round 2 (York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority)
- Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2024-2029): The Council has approved a new strategy focused on providing stable housing first, addressing homelessness through an expanded accommodation supply, and working with partners to redesign services to better support those moving into independent living
Priority action: Reduce energy consumption and generate more local sources of renewable energy.
Progress by March 2025:
- An Energy Hackathon held with North Yorkshire Council and energy providers, suppliers, innovators in October explored how to accelerate the local area energy plan
- Solar for Schools continued, with 10 schools now in the scheme.
- Nearly £3 million Net Zero Funding to explore renewable energy and put in place measures to reduce energy consumption
- Approval of the business case to deliver the regional Net Zero Accelerator (City Leap) project with North Yorkshire Council and the Combined Authority, with the award of £2 million to explore delivery models to achieve the outcomes of the York Local Area Energy Plan. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2024 to 2025
- Funding secured from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to develop a proposal for a Green Energy Park at Harewood Whin (£243,500) with the potential to power over 10,000 homes
- Executive approved the York Emissions Inventory Report 2024, which tracks the city’s overall carbon emissions, including those from transport and council buildings. This report helped inform further actions to reduce the council’s/city’s environmental impact
- The Annual Carbon Emissions Report for the council’s buildings was published highlighting progress made in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions across council-owned properties, including energy efficiency improvements and the adoption of renewable energy sources
- The proposal for the installation of a solar farm with associated infrastructure, access and security fencing at Yorwaste Harewood Whin Tinker Lane Rufforth York was approved on 20 March 2025
Priority action: Target a range of funding sources and service delivery to where they are most needed.
Progress by March 2025:
- A new £100,000 fund launched to deliver projects which supports communities in the most need
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