DEVELOPERS have announced plans for a development of new affordable homes in a Richmondshire village - on a site that has previously been prone to flooding.

Broadacres is seeking approval from the district council to build on the site of Oswin Grove, a former sheltered housing scheme in Gilling West, near Richmond.

The housing association has submitted the application for five three-bedroom and six two-bedroom homes to the district council's planning committee.

The old sheltered housing complex had to be demolished in 2015 after being badly hit by flooding.

However the new development will be built slightly higher so it will not be blighted by floodwater – and there has also already been some flood alleviation work carried out in the village.

The majority of homes will be made available for rent, with some also being offered for shared ownership. In all cases they will be allocated to people with a local connection to Gilling West and the surrounding area.

Andi McLoughlin, development manager at Broadacres, said: “During our consultation with the local community they indicated a desire for more family homes, so we have responded to this need.

“We have also designed the homes to be in keeping with the village and we expect demand to be high when they are completed.”

Subject to planning approval being granted, Broadacres expect to start work on the scheme in early summer, with a project completion date of autumn 2017.

The scheme will include a communal gazebo area and the homes will be built around a courtyard.

Broadacres also intends to provide dedicated car parking spaces for the bungalows that will face the development as residents in these bungalows currently do not have their own parking.

Amanda Madden, rural housing enabler for Richmondshire District Council, said: “We worked in partnership with Broadacres to ensure that the community had their opportunity to be consulted on the future of Oswin Grove and are keen to see the site developed and provide much needed homes for local people.

“Homes like these are needed in rural areas to ensure communities remain sustainable.”