Affordable homes scheme on Moors

5:28pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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WORK has begun on a new project to bring more affordable homes to the North Yorkshire Moors.

Housing association Home has started work on a new housing scheme in Chop Gate which when complete in January 2009 will provide eight properties for rent.

They will include bungalows and houses suitable for elderly couples and young families. It follows a similar scheme in 1996 which involved six homes.

The scheme is costing just over £1m with Housing Corporation funding just under half of that.

Efforts are being made to ensure materials and features used in the development at Chop Gate will be consistent with the character of the village.

Materials and labour will be sourced from local companies and in some cases work will be carried out using traditional methods in keeping with the surrounding area.

The chair of the local parish council, Michael Bowes, said: "The parish council and local residents are pleased that work has started on these new houses.

"The first scheme, built in 1996, has been a great success, and we are looking forward to providing quality housing for eight local families."

Home's regional managing director Ansar Ali said: "Local people seeing the early stages of the development should not be concerned.

"Home's development staff take great care to ensure our rural housing schemes are not only of the best quality but are also beautifully designed to blend in with the surrounding countryside.

"This will ensure the vitality of the village is preserved."