AN eco-friendly retirement village is set to open its doors to younger people and families.

Spire View, a £5 million development between Eastgate and Ruffa Lane in Pickering, was first opened up to people over 55 last year.

Now Pad 55, the company responsible for Spire View, is putting the homes up for sale to people of all ages after Ryedale District Council’s planning committee decided to lift the original planning condition that only people aged over 55 could live there.

Tom Welch, managing director of Pad 55, said: “We always felt there was a gap in the market in Ryedale for housing for first-time buyers and also for the over 55s.

“The problem is that the over 55s have been hit hard in the economic downturn as their homes, pensions and investments have lost value.”

Mr Welch said he was optimistic that opening the development up to people of all ages would be the solution to selling more homes.

He said: “We are excited because we think our homes appeal to so many different kinds of people.

“We have recently placed an advert in Jet 2 magazine, because we think that ex-pats returning to the UK, who will benefit from the exchange rate, might want to buy in Ryedale. People with second homes abroad and larger homes in the UK might be concerned about leaving their homes for long periods of time, but with Pad 55 it is very easy to lock up and go.”

Mr Welch said filling the development would benefit Pickering.

He said: “The development is right next to the Eastgate shops, and the people living nearby with the pound in their pocket would spend in local butchers, hairdressers and other shops.”

An Open Home event will be held on April 24 and 25, to give prospective buyers the chance to view the homes.