Railway site on track for energy-efficient homes
Stonewater has started work to convert a former railway site in a new energy efficient affordable housing development in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
Date published: 29 May 2026
The scheme, being delivered in partnership with Bradford Council, Ashfield Group and BWA Waller & Partners Ltd, will provide 35 new homes to help meet local demand; 21 for affordable rent and 14 for shared ownership.
Homes built at the Skipton Road development will be equipped with sustainable heating solutions, reducing energy bills for customers while minimising the carbon footprint of the scheme.
The houses and flats on the site, which has received funding from Homes England, will all benefit from solar panels or air source heat pumps, with some properties having both installed. Meanwhile, each parking space will feature electric vehicle charging.
The scheme is located on the northwestern edge of Ilkley, a popular market town which the Sunday Times ranked ‘Best Place to Live’ in the North of England in 2025.
The scheme ensures that customers will be well connected to the wider area, with bus services along the A65 and a central train station close to the estate. It is also situated within walking distance to Ilkey town centre.
“We’ve partnered with Bradford Council to transform the former railway site in Ilkley and bring the region new, energy-efficient homes,” said Clare Bray, Head of Development at Stonewater.
“The Council is working hard to support the district wide shift to affordable, low-carbon and thermally efficient housing in line with the West Yorkshire 2038 net zero target.
“We’ve built strong relationships with development partners like Ashfield Group and BWA Waller & Partners Ltd to be able to create homes with the best solutions to reduce carbon emissions and help keep energy bills low."
The development is being built to meet the high demand for family sized, affordable homes in the wider Bradford district.
Joel Ramsden, Managing Director at Ashfield Group, said: “We’re proud to be working on the Skipton Road scheme for Stonewater.
“These homes are being built to help address the ever-growing demand for affordable housing, while supporting those in need of well-designed and energy-efficient places to live.
“The project represents a major step in regenerating previously unused land, creating a thoughtfully designed development that will integrate seamlessly into its surroundings and provide a beautiful place for a new community to grow and become part of the wider area.”
As part of Stonewater’s dedication to creating welcoming communities where people are proud to live, the Skipton Road development will also feature a bespoke art installation by 2023 Blunden Prize winner, Patrick Wallis.
Established to support emerging artists and bring high-quality public art into new communities, the Blunden Prize, run by Stonewater, gives artists across the UK the chance to submit a proposal for a permanent installation that reflects the character of a new Stonewater development.
