TWO unusual affordable housing schemes are to be showcased next week.

The developments in Osmotherley and Swainby - that have helped local residents remain in their communities - are to be featured as part of rural housing week.

Delegates from councils, community groups and housing providers from across North Yorkshire will visit Swainby near Northallerton where they will see how a derelict garage was turned into six homes.

Hambleton District Council bought the land after realising the village needed housing and sold it to Endeavour Housing Association for development.

Delegates will also visit Osmotherley, where 12 homes for local people were built after residents decided there was a need for affordable housing. Following six years of planning, the homes were created by Northallerton-based Broadacres Housing Association.

“The initial idea for this scheme came from a residents meeting in the village organised by the Osmotherley Community Trust after money had been left in trust to be used for the benefit of the community,” said Hambleton District Councillor Tim Swales.

“The original project was to incorporate affordable housing with a car park to reduce the problems in the centre of the village and a sports hall.

“But when put to the vote villagers felt that affordable housing should be the main focus and when a local landowner offered suitable land the scheme could move forward.

“And it has grown to include all the parish with schoolchildren taking part in a competition to name the development.”

More than 120 affordable homes have been built in the Hambleton and Richmondshire areas in the last 12 months – with another 100 due to be completed this year.

Steve Towers, managing director of Broadacres, said house prices in North Yorkshire were almost eight times the average income in 2011.