HOUSING chiefs are getting more innovative in their quest to provide affordable homes for local people.

Planning policy in the Harrogate district already requires that all developments have a percentage of affordable homes.

But rather than insist they are provided on the development site, the council is also agreeing to accept off-site provision - and has now done so for several small rural developments.

The developers of each have agreed to buy another property on the open market within one of the nearby villages or towns. The developer then sells the property on, at a great discount, to housing associations which provide affordable accommodation.

The initiative is now being used in connection with developments in Birstwith, Spofforth, Pannal, Milby and Follifoot.

Yesterday the addition of five more affordable rented homes was welcomed by Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for housing, Jean Butterfield.

She said: "The off-site properties the developers are buying are in some of the highest value locations. It's not surprising they are having to sell them at less than half the price they paid to comply with the affordability rules."