A DISUSED garage site and an empty storage building could be given to a housing association to ease a shortage of affordable homes.

Richmondshire District Council officers want members to approve the gift of the site at Maythorne, Leyburn, to Broadacres Housing Association.

A report to the resources committee, on Tuesday, says that the move would provide housing for some of the 100 families on the waiting list for property to rent in Leyburn.

Previously, the council has given sites in Richmond, Brompton-on-Swale, Middleham and Colburn to housing associations.

The authority has been searching for suitable land for affordable housing in Leyburn since 2003 and the garage site was originally considered too small.

A building used for storage by the council is no longer needed and the combined land would be big enough for a small residential development, say officers.

A housing needs survey in 2005 showed that at least 25 affordable homes were needed in the town and the price of property locally has risen by 47 per cent since then, says the report.