Plans to build family housing on an area of low-grade agricultural land at Goole will give people a much-needed opportunity to get onto the housing ladder, according to the developers.

Award-winning house builder, Peter Ward Homes, hopes to build 113 houses on land at Thorntree Lane on the northern edge of the town. More than 70 will be two and three bedroom properties and it is anticipated that prices will start from a little over £100,000.

The site, already surrounded by housing on three sides and by the Hook Drain to the north, has been earmarked for residential development for almost 20 years. Earlier enquiries into drainage and traffic implications have shown no cause for concern.

Beverley-based Peter Ward Homes has built almost 200 new homes on sites in and around Goole over the past 10 years. If approved, this latest scheme of two, three and four bedroom homes and a children’s play area, will be the second biggest to be developed by the company in the town.

The company’s Managing Director, Peter Ward, said: “Demand for new housing in Goole and the surrounding area is strong and planners have recognised that building programmes have not kept pace with the demand. The current Joint Structure Plan produced jointly by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council highlights the shortage of housing across the western area of the county.

“This piece of land has for some time been low-grade agricultural land, not cropped, and is already surrounded by housing. More important is that we will be giving local people, young families in particular, a real opportunity to get on to the housing ladder with what we believe are affordable prices. The planners have recognised there is a shortage of homes in this part of the East Riding and we believe our proposal is in line with local housing policies.”

Peter Ward Homes, the area’s only winner of the coveted British House Builder of the Year Gold Award, is currently developing Captain’s Close at Goole, a mix of 84 terrace, semi detached and detached houses, and expects to build around 400 new homes with a total value in excess of £70m at sites across the East Riding and in North East Lincolnshire over the next four years.

Notes to Editors
Established in 1978, Peter Ward Homes is one of Yorkshire’s most progressive homebuilders. Based in Beverley, the company is headed by Peter Ward, who trained as a chartered surveyor. His team’s experience has led to the company’s success in a large number of residential developments. The company employs 100 people and has a turnover of £15m.

Awards include Certificate Winner, British Housebuilder Awards 2004; NHBC Pride in the Job Award 2000; NHBC Pride in the Job Award – Northern Regional Winner 1999 and British Housebuilder of the Year Award – Gold Award Winner 1999.

Issued on behalf of Peter Ward Homes by The Public Relations Company, Suite 7, Hesslewood Business Centre, Ferriby Road, Hessle HU13 0LH. For further information please contact Mike Stathers (01482) 647575 or email mike@tprc.co.uk.