When complete in January 2009 the scheme will provide eight properties for rent addressing the need for affordable housing in the Parish. New homes provided will include bungalows and houses suitable for elderly couples and young families.
Home successfully developed a similar scheme in 1996 comprising six properties. When the latest development completes Home will have provided Chop Gate with 14 highly desirable homes that blend seamlessly with the surrounding countryside.
The scheme cost just under £1,045,000 with Housing Corporation funding of just under £500K. Home acquired the land through a well-known local resident of the village and when the development completes it will be named in her honour.
Home obtained permission to develop the scheme at Chop Gate through a Section 106 ‘Local Connection’ Agreement with the North York Moors National Park Authority. This means all new homes provided will be allocated to local people.
Chop Gate is an area of outstanding natural beauty, attracting visitors, walkers and sightseers. This meant great care needed to be taken in the design of the new dwellings to ensure that each property blends in with the traditional and historic architecture of the North York Moors.
The character of the North York Moors National Park and in particular the Bilsdale Midcable Parish in which Chop Gate is located comprises traditional stone-built, two storey dwellings with clay pan tile roofs and surrounding stone-built walls.
Ansar Ali, Managing Director for Home’s Central (Yorkshire and Midlands) region says: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with the North York Moors National Park and the local Parish on our latest development addressing rural housing need.
“Local people seeing the early stages of the development should not be concerned. Home’s development staff take great care to ensure our rural housing schemes are not only of the best quality but are also beautifully designed to blend in with the surrounding countryside. This will ensure the vitality of the village is preserved.”
Home successfully developed a similar scheme in the Grassington area of the Yorkshire Dales last year, providing eight family homes, and is also providing 20 affordable homes in the village of Stamford Bridge, near York.