A CASH injection from Hambleton District Council will support the development of 31 affordable homes and new permanent gypsy pitches for the area.

Members of the authority’s cabinet this week released £552,250 for the homes which include provision for the homeless, a disabled-adapted house and eight permanent gypsy pitches.

Councillors also agreed funding for the rural housing enabler programme to continue for the next five years and for the post of a housing development officer until 2022.

Cash for affordable housing comes from two sources – commuted sums given by developers of new housing schemes in lieu of on site affordable homes; and from the council’s own community housing fund, set up in 2018 with government funding.

The schemes approved will see an existing house bought and adapted in Leeming Bar, eight new gypsy pitches in Sutton on the Forest and 11 affordable homes on an Ingleby Arncliffe development.

Four homes will be bought and repaired in Easingwold, three new flats in Northallerton will be allocated for the homeless, and in Burneston two almshouses and a schoolmasters house will be upgraded, and one new home provided.

Council Leader Mark Robson said: “By providing relatively small grants to these housing providers we can lever in significant investment for the district." He added: "Providing homes is one of the key objectives of this council as part of its overarching plan to make Hambleton a special place to live.”