The first residents of a new eco-friendly and affordable housing scheme for local people are set to move in.

Made for local people on the outskirts of Thirsk the scheme has already attracted praise from local MP Kevin Hollinrake.

Broadacres, working with developing partner EQUANS, is building 97 new homes at Sowerby Gateway, with keys to the first ten properties set to be handed over to people by the end of July.

All 97 homes are affordable, energy efficient and will be heated using Air Source Heat Pump technology.

The move marks the first time Broadacres has used renewable energy on a scheme where a gas connection is available.

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Of the homes, 59 will be affordable rent and 38 for shared ownership, providing people with a local connection to the area with the opportunity to get a foot on the property ladder.

There will also be a mixture of homes to benefit several groups of people, including one-bedroom flats, two-bedroom bungalows, family homes and adapted bungalows for people with disabilities.

Before Rural Housing Week on July 4, MP for Thirsk and Malton, Kevin Hollinrake accepted an invitation from Broadacres Chief Executive Gail Teasdale to view the new homes.

Mr Hollinrake said: “It’s exciting to see such high quality, energy efficiency homes being built, and which will be offered to local people at affordable levels.

“The current cost of living is throwing up difficult challenges for people so anything which can ease this burden is welcome and homes for discounted sale and rent with low running costs will certainly help this.”

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Mr Teasdale said: “We’re pleased to be close to welcoming the first residents to this innovative scheme which will provide a range of homes for local people and create a new community in this part of Sowerby.

“We could have chosen to connect the homes to the existing gas network but as part of our drive to achieve net carbon status by 2050 we made the conscious decision to use renewable energy, and this is now the blueprint for all new homes we build in the future.

“As a rural housing provider, we’re committed to making communities sustainable for future generations by building affordable, energy efficiency homes."