A COMMUNITY land trust is celebrating after being granted permission to build 15 affordable homes following a three-year battle.

Lyme Regis Community Land Trust (CLT) received outline permission from West Dorset District Council (WDDC) for the housing scheme for land at the top of Timber Hill, close to Lyme Regis Golf Club.

The homes will be available as rental properties for local people.

Denis Yell, chairman of Lyme Regis CLT, said: “After more than three years of hard work alongside the current landowners and our Housing Association partner Yarlington, it’s gratifying that the final details for this development of 15 affordable homes for rent to local people can now be completed, and the construction contract can shortly be awarded by Yarlington.

“The CLT will be the landowner of the site in perpetuity and will be involved alongside Yarlington in monitoring the construction process and in allocation of the homes to local people.”

Last year, Lyme Regis Town Council’s planning and highways committee backed the proposals, but raised concerns over drainage at the site.

In March , the district council’s executive committee awarded £147,920 to Yarlington Homes to help develop the scheme.

The money came from a S106 agreement that with developers to support affordable housing.

Affordable housing is any home that is not private market housing and can include social rented housing, prioritised by need, and affordable rent housing.

The grant for the site in Lyme Regis has come from contributions held by the district council from the Bridport Police Station development.

The scheme has been designed by Boon Brown architects. Mr Yell thanked the architects for their help.

He added: “The CLT acknowledges their contribution for the innovative design and in helping steer the planning application to a successful outcome.

“The whole team is also grateful for the encouragement and support that has been received from Lyme Regis Town Council and West Dorset District Council.

“The CLT confirms that it will continue to keep the community informed as events now unfold.”

Speaking to the Bridport & Lyme Regis News in May, Lyme Regis mayor Cllr Owen Lovell, said the Timber Hill proposals were the “best chance” for affordable housing in the town, although he said it was not an “ideal location”.

For more information on the development, please visit lrclt.btck.co.uk