• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

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Home Group SleightsA DEVELOPMENT to provide affordable housing to people in a national park has won a prestigious award.

Home Group’s development of 10 family homes in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park has been named the best affordable housing development at the North and East Yorkshire Building awards.

The news coincides with Rural Housing Week (11-17 July) – an initiative designed to highlight the housing needs of those living in rural areas and the part housing associations can play in meeting demand.

The homes in the village of Sleights, close to Whitby, were designed in a farmstead style to blend in with the surrounding countryside and existing structures.

Joy Whinnerah, Home Group head of delivery, said: “We’re delighted to have our work in Sleights recognised with this award. These 10 homes demonstrate that with careful thought, community consultation and sympathetic design it is possible to build in sensitive areas and provide homes which enhance the community.

“The homes are being occupied by local people and allow them to remain in communities they have long established connections with.”

The homes were designed by North Yorkshire based architects Bramhall Blenkharn and built by Strategic Team Group.

House prices in Scarborough district massively outstrip earnings with the average home 7.6 times average salaries. The cost of an average home is £160,424 meaning buyers need a salary of £36,668 for a mortgage with a 20% deposit. The average worker in the borough has yearly earnings of £20,982.

Joy added: “These figures show that it’s not just big cities in the south where affordable housing is a problem. Rural areas are often overlooked when it comes to housing provision but Home Group is committed to providing homes where they are needed to ensure communities continue to thrive.”

The award was presented by award winning architect and Channel 4 property programme presenter Charlie Luxton.

All of the homes are subject to a local occupancy condition meaning residents must either live or work in Sleights for five years to be eligible.

By admin