A campaign to tackle the housing crisis is leading the way in meeting the needs of people wanting affordable properties, council chiefs say.

West Dorset is among the most active local authority areas nationwide for supporting Community Land Trusts (CLTs), with 10 of the groundbreaking social enterprise schemes completed or in the planning stage.

CLTs are housing developments led by local people to house local people – with properties for families being genuinely affordable.

They are built on land that would not otherwise be available for housing either at highly discounted rates or in some instances for free.

West Dorset District Council is urging more communities to come forward and take advantage of £1.2m of funding available as part of its Opening Doors housing programme to support CLTs.

West Dorset District Council's housing portfolio holder Cllr Tim Yarker said: “CLTs make a valuable contribution to the vitality and cohesion of their rural settlements.

“Opening Doors aims to encourage the development of more good quality homes of a mixed tenure and there is no doubt that some of the strongest need is in our rural areas.

“We would like to see more communities come forward to take advantage of the funding and support available.”

The Powerstock CLT near Bridport is the latest in the area and is due for completion in early 2019 when it will provide eight affordable rented homes for local families.

It follows the Garmin’s Field CLT at Lyme Regis and others in Toller Porcorum, Marshwood and Buckland Newton.

Steve Watson, of Wessex CLT Project, which has helped communities launch schemes, said: “As far as I am aware West Dorset has more CLTs than any other district in the country.

“That is no coincidence, the council has given incredible support to CLTs and has been for 10 years now.”

The Powerstock & District Community Land Trust Ltd has worked with the Wessex CLT Project, WDDC and Hastoe Housing Association on the scheme

Committee chairman Vanessa White said: “There has already been a great deal of interest in the homes from people of different ages but all with a local connection.

“The community has been very supportive and we’re also very grateful to West Dorset District Council, Hastoe, the landowner and the Wessex CLT Trust.”

Hastoe, which is a specialist rural housing association, has co-ordinated construction of the development and will manage the properties when complete although the CLT will retain the freehold.

Opening Doors has been launched by West Dorset District Council, North Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council with an overall aim of encourage 20,000 more homes by 2033.

Property prices in the village of Powerstock mean that some locals cannot afford to live there.

However, a group of residents has found a way to bring forward a development of new houses for people with a strong local connection to the area.

The Powerstock & District Community Land Trust Ltd has worked with West Dorset District Council, Hastoe Housing Association, the Wessex CLT Project and the landowner on the scheme to provide eight new houses for affordable rent.

With its chosen site at the ‘Forge’ falling within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to the village’s Grade I listed church and near a Scheduled Monument, construction of new homes has been less than straightforward, but they are due for completion in early 2019.

Hastoe will manage the properties but the CLT will retain the freehold in perpetuity for the village.

Vanessa White, chairman of the Powerstock CLT, said: “One of the reasons we chose the site for the CLT is that it is tucked away in an unobtrusive position which won’t change the look of the village.

“That has made it more difficult but after nearly six years we are looking forward to its completion."

The scheme has been designed in a ‘farm courtyard’ setting to satisfy various planning and conservation requirements with a barn style building at one end complemented by ‘converted stables’ and a coach house.

Local ham stone has been used for the lower floors with red cedar boarding above and slate roofs.

Vanessa White, who has lived in the village for 35 years, said: “Under the CLT process, the community has the power to choose a site and lead the scheme with support from the council."