The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is sponsoring a competition to design affordable suburban housing, which it hopes will provide inspiration for a development in York.

The competition is open to teams of architects, developers and surveyors.

The foundation hopes to use the winning entry for a development of six homes in its suburban village of New Earswick in York.

It is also looking for ideas for a development of 540 homes planned on the east side of the city.

Director Lord Richard Best said: “Although British architects win international awards for major commercial and cultural buildings, residential architecture for the middle and lower housing market has been largely ignored.”

Teams are invited to express an interest by the end of next month.

A selection of four finalists will be made in York on 15 April.