WORK has begun to create a £3m development of eco-friendly new homes in a North Yorkshire village.

Developers are adding a green dimension to all 14 of the properties being built at Melmerby, near Ripon, by installing air source heat pumps rather than conventional gas or oil.

Named Wobeck Meadow, the flagship site is being brought to life by developers Berkeley DeVeer, and marketed by the Ripon office of agents Linley and Simpson.

The development includes six affordable homes and the first phase is set for completion in the spring.

“The creation of Wobeck Meadow comes as research reveals that homebuyers are ranking a property’s green credentials with increasing importance,” said David Waddington, head of new homes at Linley and Simpson.

“Developers have gone back to nature by investing more than £100,000 by bringing this eco-efficiency to Melmerby – an approach that will generate significant savings to the running costs of each of these homes.”