AN affordable housing development in a North Yorkshire village has been named one of the best in the UK.

A housing development of 12 homes for local people in Osmotherley, built by Broadacres, has made it into Inside Housing magazine’s top 50 UK affordable developments.

Judges considered entries from across the UK and picked out projects which they felt best embodied what makes high-quality regeneration, specialist, small, large and sustainable developments.

In 2013, Broadacres - in partnership with Hambleton District Council and the North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority - built 12 homes for local people in the popular village. It provided properties for, amongst others, a shepherd, a green keeper and a nurse.

Fiona Coleman, Development Manager for Broadacres, said: “The scheme involved the community from planning stage onwards and many of the features that were included in the final development came directly as a result of input from local people.

“There was huge demand in the properties and we were pleased to have been able to provide much-needed homes for local people who may otherwise have been forced to move away from the area.”

Stuart Macdonald, editor of Inside Housing, said: “The amount of entries demonstrated the positive impact that social landlords are having on the quality of homes and local economies around the British Isles.

“The Osmotherley development on the edge of a village in the national park helps ensure local people can afford to live in their rural community.”

Only people who have a local connection to the area were eligible to apply for the homes on the development, which consist of two two-bedroom apartments, five two-bedroom houses and five three-bedroom houses.

Nine of the properties were offered for affordable rent and three for shared ownership.

Broadacres said there was exceptionally high demand for the homes, which were built as part of the Rural Housing Enabler Programme.

Local people were involved at every stage of the planning and design of the new £1.5m development.