Holy Island housing venture launched

A new development of affordable homes on Holy Island in Northumberland has been officially launched.

Four Housing Group will be assisting the Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust to develop the four 3-bedroom homes in the grounds of Castle View, on land designated as a rural exceptional site, and will be available for rent by the local community.

The new homes are intended to help overcome the problem for local people of having to leave the island, as the average house price is 17 times the typical income, a disparity fuelled by more than half of the 160 dwellings being owned by outsiders as holiday homes.

The £650,000 funding for the homes has been provided in equal measures by the Tudor Trust, a London based charity, the North East team of the housing and regeneration body - the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), and a loan from the Triodos Bank.

It is the first time a government body has financed a community land trust for affordable housing.

Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith officially launched the new development which is expected to be completed in Spring 2010.

Sir Alan whose constituency includes Holy Island said: "I am delighted to launch this innovative development, which will make a real difference to the local community. Local people need homes they can afford if they are to stand any chance of remaining in their communities."