MORE than 100 affordable homes are to be made available in Richmondshire thanks to £5.1m funding from Westminster.

The lack of low-cost homes has been identified as a major problem in parts of North Yorkshire, particularly rural communities where rocketing prices are beyond the pockets of most first-time buyers.

As a result, young people are being forced to leave areas where they have been brought up because they are unable to find anywhere affordable to live.

The Government grant will pay for a total of 115 homes over the next two years. Sixty will be new properties, nine will be purchased and the remainder will be tied in with the recently-announced extra care housing scheme for the elderly, which is to replace the council-run sheltered housing complex and residential home in Bainbridge, Wensleydale.

"Increasing house prices means affordable housing is an issue of growing concern for a greater number of people," said Councillor Richard Dunn, chairman of Richmondshire District Council's community committee.

"The council is working hard to increase the supply of good-quality, affordable housing available to rent in the area and this latest funding allocation provides a very welcome boost."

The money will be invested in new homes in Richmond, Colburn , Brompton-on-Swale, Skeeby, Hawes and Catterick Village, and either Middleham or Leyburn.

The Home Group Partnership will provide another four both this year and next in rural areas outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, through a purchase and refurbishment scheme.

One more will be acquired through the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust's Homebuy scheme, which enables a beneficiary to purchase a property using a 25 per cent interest-free loan, repayable when the home is sold.

The extra care housing scheme at Bainbridge will see 21 units replace facilities at Sycamore Close and a nursing home at High Hall.

The Housing Corporation's assistant director of investment for the region, Rick Elliott, said: "Working closely with Richmondshire District Council and local housing associations, we've put together a programme that will help about 300 local people achieve their dream of a decent, affordable home in this area."