Fifteen affordable homes will receive their first tenants within the next few weeks.

The homes are situated at Northcombe Lea, the affordable housing site at Netherhay and will receive their first tenants thanks to the hard-work of a Community Land Trust (CLT).

Rowland Hibbard, BGP CLT chairman, said: “The Broadwindsor Group Parish Plan in 2012 highlighted the lack of affordable homes for rent in this area and this was raised again during community consultations for the Neighbourhood Plan of 2018.

“There was a danger that local people employed in agriculture, light industry or the care home sector would be priced out of the rental housing market and would have to move to Bridport or Crewkerne.”

Following a plea by Broadwindsor Group Parish Council for volunteers from within the local community, the CLT was established in 2016 and it acquired the freehold of a 1.5 ha development SITE.

Sheila Hawkins, BGP CLT secretary, said: “Meetings were held in Broadwindsor and Drimpton earlier this year encouraging local families on the council’s housing register to apply for the homes and a total of 29 families responded.

“The site would provide a lasting legacy for the community, why shouldn’t everyone have a decent house to live in? We want to keep our community thriving and support people born and brought up here. While it has taken longer than we would have liked, it’s so exciting seeing it come to fruition.”

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, lead member for housing, explaines that the council was working on several affordable schemes which would help enhance its vision for thriving communities where everyone has a good quality home.