PEOPLE have moved in to a number of affordable eco-friendly homes in Buckland Newton.

Four properties were built in Brookfields Meadow by Wimborne-based housing association, East Boro Housing Trust (EBHT), part of the Aster Group.

The development, made up of two, two-bedroom and two, three-bedroom semi-detached houses, features homes fitted with air source heat pumps to generate heating and hot water.

Two of the homes will be available to rent on an affordable basis by locals, or those with a strong connection to the area.

The remaining two houses which were available to purchase by local residents through shared ownership have already been snapped up.

East Boro chief executive, Kevin Hodder, said: “The severe lack of homes to both buy and rent in Buckland Newton is really impacting the local community, with increasing prices pushing locals out of the area.

“The average price of houses sold last year was nearly half a million pounds, so against these tough buying and rental conditions our affordable homes are going to make the biggest difference to local residents looking to either rent or affordably buy in the village.

“We’re really pleased to be able to develop small groups of affordable homes in villages within Dorset for the benefit of the local communities.”

Dorset Council contributed £60,000 towards developing the homes.

Portfolio holder for adult social care, health & housing, Cllr Jane Somper, said: “It’s great to see this scheme and how this makes it possible for families to afford to live in good quality homes and stay in the local area.

“By reducing the running costs and addressing the sustainability of these homes, residents can feel confident about living in a suitable home for as long as they need to be there. This is so important, and I applaud the commitment of East Boro to Dorset and to local people’s needs.”

East Boro worked with local developer Sambec Property Development Ltd, who built the new homes in Brookfields Meadow.

The rented homes will be managed by East Boro, and the shared ownership homes will be managed by Aster Group.

For further information – and to apply for the rental homes – visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/housing.