THE annual review of Ryedale District Council’s housing action plan states that 40 affordable homes were developed in the district in the 2017/18 year.

The figure includes 10 affordable apartments for local people at Wood Street in Norton, built with Homes England grant funding with Yorkshire Housing.

The number of 40 completed developments is below the council’s annual target of 75 affordable homes.

The review of the 2015-2021 plan - which is intended to provide a framework for meeting the housing and housing-related needs of the district until 2021 - is set to be discussed at a meeting of the authority’s policy and resources committee tomorrow (Thursday).

Earlier this year, the Government redefined what constituted “affordable” housing as part of its update of its national planning policy framework.

According to the council, the new definition “has the potential to ‘support’ the developer as opposed to the client because “low-cost market” housing now appears to be covered in the new definition.”

The report also states that the council has been awarded a Homes England “accelerated construction” grant of £625,770 to “support the development” of its Ryedale House site in Old Malton for housing.

The grant is intended to “support modern methods of construction and encourage diversification through support for low- and medium-volume house builders and new entrants”.

Ryedale House is set to be vacated by the council - before autumn 2020 - in favour of a new £2.5m public service hub on the site of the current Community House at Wentworth Street in Malton.

The meeting will also hear an annual review for the authority’s Homelessness Strategy Action Plan.