HAMBLETON and Richmondshire will be among the districts to benefit from an affordable housing programme using cash generated by the reduction in council tax discounts on second homes.

Four schemes in each of the two districts are included in the first phase of a provisional programme approved by the executive of the county council on Tuesday.

Across the seven districts, the authority is proposing a total of 156 affordable homes in the first phase and will contribute £3.3m towards the cost, but the programme is subject to matching funding from the Housing Corporation and the Government agreeing to the county council becoming a housing authority.

Earlier this year, after the districts had cut council tax discount on second homes from 50pc to 10pc, the county executive agreed that steps should be taken to channel the money into a three-year programme of investment in affordable housing capable of generating about 300 homes.

Revenue from the discount reduction will not be enough to pay for the programme, and the county council is having to borrow an additional £4m to help create a multi-million pound fund to be matched by the Housing Corporation, which should then bring in further investment from housing associations.

The first phase of the programme includes schemes for new build, converting existing premises and bringing empty properties back into use through refurbishment; redeveloping sites and creating flats above shops for social rent and to meet the needs of the homeless, the elderly and families on priority lists.

In Hambleton, the first phase proposes schemes for 22 units on redeveloped garage sites in Meadow Lane, Northallerton; Hambleton Avenue and Hambleton Place in Thirsk, and in redevelopments at East Lea, Topcliffe and Crabmill Lane, Easingwold.

In Richmondshire, it is proposed to convert the sports centre at Gallowgate, Richmond, into eight rented units, and to build three bungalows for older people in Nuns Close in the town. A conversion could produce a single rented unit in Hudson House, Reeth. An unspecified number of units is envisaged at Bainbridge following redevelopment of two sites directly linked to a neighbouring extra care housing scheme.

In Harrogate district, new build involving 25 units is envisaged on the site of Ripon House, where land is owned by the county council. Smaller new build schemes involving four units are proposed for Crowgarth at Skelton-on-Ure and Carrside, Great Ouseburn.

The county executive was told that since 1997, fewer than 600 affordable houses a year had been delivered in North Yorkshire. Studies suggested that about 2,500 would be needed annually over the next few years to address both new requirements and the existing shortfall