MORE than a dozen affordable homes are being provided for local people in a rural community.

Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust is working with Abri, one of the south’s largest housing providers, to build 15 affordable homes in Drimpton.

The community-led initiative to provide housing is in response to concerns that there are no homes available that local people can afford.

The new homes will be available to rent and will be prioritised for people that live, work or have family locally in the parish and neighbouring parishes. They will be completed by April next year.

A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a non-profit organisation that owns and develops land for the benefit of the community. The Board of Broadwindsor Group CLT is made up of members of the community who have appointed Abri to manage the building of the homes and the day-to-day management once the homes are completed. Broadwindsor Group CLT will retain long-term ownership of the land as they own the freehold.

David Leader, Chairman of Broadwindsor Group Parish CLT said: “This project is a direct response to local community concerns about the lack of affordable homes for rent within the Broadwindsor Group Parish area.

“Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust (BGP CLT) have actively participated in the design of these 15 attractive, well-insulated, sustainable homes for affordable rent to people with a local connection. The homes will sit within a well-designed planned landscape to maintain and help improve local biodiversity. BGP CLT Board members are proud to be part of enabling local people to live and work here and making a more resilient, cohesive community.”

Louise Lote, Senior Land and New Business Manager at Abri said: “The CLT have worked tirelessly over many years and shown a great deal of commitment to ensure these homes can be built to leave a fantastic legacy for the community.

“Abri is committed to helping strengthen communities and working in partnership with the CLT we’re helping make sure that local people can remain local. We’re helping to provide homes that are affordable and offering a long term sustainable solution as through the CLT they will remain within the community.”

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Safety at Dorset Council, said: “Dorset Council would like to congratulate Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust and Abri in bringing this development of much needed affordable homes forward.

"The development of community led housing takes a lot of time and effort from volunteers and Dorset Council is proud to have supported the Broadwindsor Group Parish CLT in this project and we look forward to see these homes being built.”