IN Brief:
- Construction has started on 15 affordable homes at Hunmanby and 11 at Shipton by Beningbrough.
- North Yorkshire Council is contributing £875,000 from the second-home premium towards a combined investment of approximately £7.5m.
- Both schemes will provide social rent and shared ownership properties, with completion targeted for autumn 2027.
Broadacres Housing Association has started construction of 26 affordable homes at Hunmanby and Shipton by Beningbrough in North Yorkshire, supported by £875,000 from the county council’s additional tax on second homes. The two developments represent a combined investment of approximately £7.5m, including funding from Broadacres and Homes England. Both are expected to be completed by autumn 2027, providing accommodation for social rent and shared ownership with priority given to households connected to the local communities.
The larger development comprises 15 homes on land south of Sands Lane in Hunmanby. The properties will include one, two and three-bedroom accommodation, with both affordable tenure options incorporated into the scheme. Broadacres has identified the development as a response to local housing demand, particularly among households seeking to remain close to employment, schools and family support networks.
The Hunmanby scheme represents an investment of approximately £4.2m. North Yorkshire Council is contributing £435,000 from revenue generated through the second-home premium, alongside approximately £2.4m from Broadacres and £1.42m from Homes England. The individual contributions are reported to different levels of rounding, so they should not be used to suggest a more precise total development cost than the published £4.2m estimate.
At Shipton by Beningbrough, the second site is located on Station Lane and will provide 11 homes. The accommodation mix comprises four three-bedroom properties, five two-bedroom homes and two one-bedroom properties. These will also be offered for social rent or shared ownership, with priority for applicants who have a connection to the village and surrounding area.
The Shipton by Beningbrough development carries an approximate investment value of £3.3m. Its funding comprises £440,000 from North Yorkshire Council, £1.9m from Broadacres and £905,000 from Homes England. The council’s two allocations total £875,000, providing a specific contribution towards the 26 homes rather than financing their entire construction cost.
The housing association and council describe these as the first developments to begin construction using grants supported by the additional council tax premium on second homes. North Yorkshire Council introduced the 100% premium in April 2025, effectively doubling the council tax charge on qualifying second homes. The measure was intended to help address pressure on housing availability in rural and coastal communities while generating revenue for local priorities.
The council originally estimated that the premium could raise up to £10m annually. That figure describes potential revenue rather than money already collected or committed to construction. The Hunmanby and Shipton grants are identifiable allocations from the funding programme, with the wider investment required for delivery coming from the housing association and Homes England.
Broadacres had previously announced financial support for the Hunmanby development in January 2026, when the scheme remained subject to planning approval. The October announcement establishes a later stage, with work now underway at both Hunmanby and Shipton by Beningbrough. The current construction milestone is distinct from the earlier commitment of grant funding to the proposed Hunmanby homes.
The two schemes will include energy efficiency features and low-carbon heating. Broadacres has not identified the heating systems selected, the detailed insulation specifications or the expected energy performance ratings. It would consequently be premature to attribute a particular heat pump system, photovoltaic installation or building performance certification to the properties.
Energy performance will depend on the relationship between the building fabric, heating equipment and the completed building services. Insulation and airtightness influence heat demand, while the choice and configuration of heating systems affect how energy is supplied to each home. The announcement confirms the intention to incorporate relevant measures but provides no calculated energy savings, operational monitoring results or comparison with an established housing baseline.
Both developments combine different dwelling sizes within relatively small village sites. The mix includes one-bedroom homes as well as larger accommodation for households requiring additional space. The two tenures provide different access routes to housing, with social rent offering rented accommodation and shared ownership allowing eligible households to purchase a proportion of a property under the applicable scheme arrangements.
The announcement does not specify the exact division of social rent and shared ownership homes at each location. It also does not identify individual sale prices, rent levels or the allocation criteria beyond the stated local connection priority. Those details will be relevant when the homes approach occupation but should not be inferred from the overall development numbers.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for housing, Councillor Simon Myers, said the grants reflected a commitment to reinvesting money raised locally in additional housing. The council describes itself as the only authority in England to ring-fence the premium exclusively for housing-related projects. That claim is attributed to the council, while the announcement also identifies other housing and regeneration activities benefiting from the broader funding programme.
Broadacres chief executive Claire Townson said the developments would provide more affordable accommodation in communities where local households can struggle to secure suitable homes. Homes England has also supported the combined use of local grants, housing association investment and national affordable housing funding. The organisations regard the council contributions as necessary to bringing the schemes forward, although no independently calculated funding gap has been published.
The projects will require the construction of separate groups of homes and their associated infrastructure at two village locations. The public announcement does not identify the principal building contractor, structural systems, foundation methods or detailed programme for each site. No particular construction technology or subcontractor appointment can therefore be attributed to either development.
Delivery will continue at Sands Lane and Station Lane towards the autumn 2027 target. Broadacres has not confirmed individual handover dates or the precise timing of allocations to residents. The commencement of works establishes progress beyond the funding and planning stages, with the eventual number of completed homes and their occupancy to be confirmed as construction advances.
