PROPOSALS for new affordable homes across the Ribble Valley are being looked at by councillors, including in one village where over 60 households are said to be ‘in need’.
New homes would be developed, if councillors agree, using over £2m gained through agreements with building companies active in other locations in the borough.
Through ‘commuted sum’ agreements, Ribble Valley Borough Council officers are proposing to use the cash for affordable homes in Chatburn, Barrow and Chipping, to buy or rent. A site in Clitheroe is also up for discussion.
More than 60 households are waiting for a property in Chatburn, a council report states. There has been no additional affordable housing in the village for well over 10 years, it adds.
More than 30 local households need a one-bedroom home, 47 need a two-bedroom home, 40 need a three-bedroom home and seven need a four- bedroom home.
Councillors on the borough’s health and housing committee have been asked to approve the location ideas and confirm how they want the sums used . They also need to decide if the new homes will be for sale or rent.
Grants to help first-time buyers are being looked at, with priority going to local people, ranked in different categories.
As part of seven recent housing developments in the district, commuted sums toward building new affordable housing on another locations have been agreed with the borough council, according to a report for the committee. These are instead of affordable homes being built on the same sites.
These seven developments where sums have come from are at Chatburn Old Road, Chatburn, where just over £206,000 was agreed; Clitheroe Road in Barrow, where £185,000 was agreed; Dilworth Lane at Longridge, where over £ 1.6million was agreed; Peel Park Avenue in Clitheroe, where almost £12,000 was agreed; and Malt Kiln Brow at Chipping, where £30,000 was agreed. The total agreed is almost £2.1million.
New affordable homes are proposed for Chatburn Old Road in Chatburn, land east of Clitheroe Road in Barrow; Church Raike and buildings and land around the Dog and Partridge at Hesketh Lane, both at Chipping. Barrow has had no new affordable homes for 10 years. A site at Peel Park Avenue in Clitheroe is also listed in the committee report.
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