A rural community is celebrating the completion of much-needed affordable homes to enable locals to stay in their village.
York Housing Association officially unveiled the dozen new homes in Staithes with a community celebration and a visit from local MP Robert Goodwill.
In his address at the event, Mr Goodwill highlighted the importance of building more affordable housing in the local area.
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He said: "This is absolutely the sort of development we should be doing locally.
"We need to make sure local people have decent housing built to high environmental standards with a good social landlord who ensures the homes are kept in good condition.
"It’s about creating a community people want to live in.”
The new homes were officially opened by the Staithes Harbour Master, Norman Fowler, and guests were entertained with a performance from pupils at Seton Community Primary School.
Steve Secker, Chair of the board at York Housing Association: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming together with both our residents and members of the local community to celebrate the completion of these new homes.
"We know the vital importance of building new affordable housing so villages like Staithes can be affordable for all sections of society.
"We want to ensure that local people don’t have to move away to find the homes they need and we hope these new homes will help tackle this problem.”
Resident on the development, Sheila Howell, shared her delight at moving into one of the new flats.
She said: “Getting this flat was like winning the lottery.
"I’m so thankful the homes were only available to local people.
"The house I was living in was being turned into a holiday home and I needed somewhere nearby that was suitable as I have mobility difficulties."
To bring this development to fruition, York Housing Association (YHA) and parent company, northern housing association Karbon Homes, worked with the North York Moors National Park Authority and the area’s Rural Housing Enabler (RHE).
It was backed by a funding contribution of £70,000 from Scarborough Borough Council, to help address local housing need, as well as £400,000 from Homes England.
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Councillor Carl Maw, Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member for housing, said: "A high level of affordable housing need has been identified in many parts of our borough, including rural areas.
"That’s why new developments with affordability at the heart of them, such as this one at Staithes, are crucial if we are to help more people to remain living and working in their local area with a good quality of life.”
The homes are a mixture of two and three-bed houses, two-bed bungalows and one-bed flats.
Available for affordable rent and shared ownership, they provide homes for local households who may find it hard to afford a property in the village, due to rises in property prices in recent years.
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