A NEWLY built affordable housing scheme for local people at Minchingtons Close in Norton-sub-Hamdon has been welcomed by South Somerset Council.

Over a number of years, the Council, Yarlington Housing Group and the Parish Council have worked to help ensure that the village is not a place where only the minority can afford to live and bring up their families.

This also led to the establishment of a Community Land Trust (CLT) made up of local residents, which became the driving force behind the schemes success.

Of the ten new homes built at Minchingtons Close in the village, eight homes have been let on affordable rents and two have been sold under shared ownership.

The homes have been allocated to people with a local connection to the village and surrounding parishes.

Local Ward Member for Hamdon and District Cllr, Sylvia Seal said: “SSDC is all about helping communities to help themselves, and I am very proud to have been able to support the community of Norton to achieve the ambition of bring more affordable homes to the village.

"Not sitting on their laurels the Community Land Trust has just started to operate the village shop following the retirement of the owner”.

South Somerset Council enabled the Community Land Trust to establish and provided support to get the scheme through the planning and housing systems.

Area North Committee also provided funds of £5,000 for legal fees.

Cllrr Ric Pallister, Portfolio Holder for Housing added: “I must pay tribute to the tireless efforts of the CLT members and to Richard Holloway, a local farmer, without whom none of this would have been possible. "Richard made the land available in a perfect location and with the support of Yarlington Housing group a dream has become reality and 10 families can now remain living in their local community. "As many parishes will testify, bringing more affordable homes to rural villages takes time and effort and it’s fantastic that after so many years, a legacy is there for local families who would otherwise be unable to afford to buy or rent their own home in Norton”.

The District Council has also been supporting another Community Land Trust scheme, at Queen Camel, where Hastoe Housing Association are currently building twenty new homes for local people.

There are currently over 2,300 households registered for rehousing in South Somerset.

Anybody in need of affordable housing can register at homefindersomerset.co.uk.

For further information, you can visit the Housing Advice Centre at Petters House in Yeovil, or phone 01935 462462