RESIDENTS from an award-winning affordable housing scheme have spoken about the benefits of being part of the development.

Broadacres, a not-for-profit housing association, built 12 homes in the village of Osmotherley in partnership with the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Involving residents in every stage of the £1.5 million development, nine of the properties were offered for affordable rent and three for shared ownership, allowing people to progress on the property ladder.

The scheme has been included within Inside Housing magazine’s top 50 UK affordable developments and won the North York Moors Design awards, in 2014, as the Best New Dwelling.

“We are committed to deliver an appropriate increase in housing provision to help maintain the viability of our rural communities and the National Park’s population as a whole,” said Chris France, the park’s director of planning.

“Evidence shows that these schemes are very popular with our local communities and there are many schemes in the pipeline across the whole of the National Park, including looking at the possibility of a second scheme in Osmotherley.”

Among the first people to move in were Katriona and Anthony Garnett, and their son James.

Katriona, who is from Osmotherley, works as a district nurse while Anthony is a greenkeeper at Romanby Golf Club, in Northallerton.

“We had to move out of Osmotherley because we couldn’t afford to live here, so when we heard about the plans for the new properties, we registered our interest and started to attend all the meetings about the development,” said Katriona.

“It’s lovely to be back living in the village and the area where I grew up, where my family live and where I work, and to know there are schemes like this which enable young professionals like us to remain in our communities without it costing the earth.”

Residents supported the scheme by choosing the site, having an input into the design of the homes, naming the properties and streets.

This resulted in the construction of two two-bedroom apartments, five two-bedroom houses and five three-bedroom houses in Clack Lane.

“This was an excellent example of a community-led development with local people involved in the entire process from start to finish,” said Fiona Coleman, development manager for Broadacres

“What we have been left with is a beautiful development that is very much in keeping with the area and which has provided much-needed affordable homes for local people.”