NEW affordable homes in the centre of a west Dorset market town were celebrated to mark Rural Housing Week. 

Hastoe Housing has worked with Dorset Council and local firm C G Fry & Son to build the eight properties in Rope Walks, Bridport, behind Waitrose. 

Martin Cox, owner of West Dorset Leisure Holidays, previously owned the land on which the homes are built along with his sister and cousin and grew up in the area.

The two and three-bedroom houses are built on the site of a former coal yard and were completed back in March.

Three two-bed and one three-bed house are for affordable rent, while two two-bed and one three-bed house are for shared ownership.

A celebration event was held to mark the arrival of the development - called The Old Coal Yard - last week to coincide with the Rural Housing Week initiative, which ran from July 3 to 7.

Hastoe Housing says they are 'highly energy-efficient and exceptionally well insulated' to help reduce fuel bills for residents. 

The rural housing company invested £1.4million into the development, while Homes England put in £414,000 and Dorset Council £120,000.

Mr Cox said: “My sister, cousin and I are all very proud to be involved in this project. Our family lived just across the road from here until I was 14 years old.

“It’s extremely rewarding to see the old coal yard now being used for residential purposes.

"I’m sure that my father and uncle who worked for over 50 years in their coal business are looking down and very pleased to see this development.

“I hope the eight families who live in The Old Coal Yard will enjoy their new homes."

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, lead member for housing at Dorset Council, added: “Bridport is one of the areas in Dorset with the highest demand for affordable homes.

"There were over 70 bids for each of the rented properties and over 400 households have Bridport listed as one of their preferred areas to live."

Philip Fry, managing director of C G Fry and Son Ltd, said: “Bridport has some wonderful architecture, and we wanted these houses to feel like they belonged to the town and hopefully our design and construction team have achieved this."

Lindy Morgan, chair of Hastoe Housing's board, said: “We are really pleased we have been able to provide residents with gardens and ensured these homes are future proofed.

"By concentrating on the fabric of the building to reduce energy consumption, the homes are low in carbon emissions and energy cost.”