MOVES to build affordable homes in rural areas across North Yorkshire have exceeded targets but housing bosses are calling for additional cash to ensure more can be provided to ensure young families and local people are not priced out of communities.

A record 370 rural homes were completed in the 12 months to April thanks to work by the North Yorkshire and East Riding Rural Housing Enablers and housing association partners.

Of those 199 were for rent, 139 for shared ownership, 18 for discount market sale and 14 other types of affordable homes.

Councillor Richard Foster, Chair of the regional Network said in the annual report : "There is an urgent need to protect and build more affordable housing in the rural areas of North and East Yorkshire and building these homes remains as challenging as ever.

"Many rural communities are in danger of breaking apart, as young families and those on modest incomes are priced out of their local housing market, and local services close.

"We want to ensure that our communities have access to high quality, sustainable, affordable homes. The work done by the Rural Housing Enabler Network is central to ensuring that these new homes are delivered across our rural communities. We want our rural areas to be accessible, sustainable and affordable for local people.

"Through the network, we remain committed to tackling the challenges associated with rural housing delivery, in particular the high cost of building new affordable homes. And we will continue to push for additional investment to address the high development costs associated with rural housing delivery.

"I am really encouraged to see such a large number of new rural affordable homes delivered this year by our housing association and local authority partners with the vital support of our Rural Housing Enablers."

Across the region affordable rural homes have been built at Helmsley in Ryedale with permission for 24 of 60 new homes on land owned by the Duncombe Park Estate for rent and Discount Market Sale.

Two rural exception sites in Hambleton at Carlton Miniott and Huby have been agreed to build a total of 19 homes for rent and shared ownership

At Lealholm on the North York Moors a proposal for 12 homes plus a community play area and orchard is being drawn up following a feasibility study paid for through the Community Housing Fund

Harrogate delivered 345 affordable homes including 147 in rural locations and a review of redundant chapels and churches is underway in Richmondshire with a view to bringing them forward as affordable homes.

The group is now keen to identify further need for affordable housing in rural communities and is calling for suitable sites for new affordable homes contact www.nycyerhousing.co.uk/rural-affordable-housing/