Council asked to approve funds for affordable housing in Goathland
Approval for £30,000 is being sought to help bring a derelict cottage back into use.
A scheme to kick-start a push for more affordable homes in the village of Goathland will go before Scarborough Borough Council’s cabinet next week.
On Tuesday 18th January councillors will be asked to approve funding worth more than £30,000 to help bring a derelict cottage back into use.
The Church Cottages Trust was set up in 2021 in order to renovate two properties in the village, known as the Church Cottages, and then let them out as affordable homes to local people in housing need.
The two cottages were left to the village in perpetuity many years ago for this use. They were previously managed by Goathland Parish Council, but were recently transferred to the trust.
Councillors will be asked to give the green light for the use of up to £31,493 from the Community Housing Fund to cover half the cost of the works to bring one derelict cottage back into use.
The Church Cottages Trust will provide match-funding for the remaining 50% of the total.
The trust wishes to undertake the full renovation of the derelict cottage, which once completed, would enable it to move the existing tenant from the second cottage into the newly renovated one.
The second cottage has suffered from a lack of investment in recent years and is in need of modernisation. Separate funding is being sought by the trust to bring it up to standard.
Once refurbished, the second cottage would be let out to local people in housing need, at an affordable rent.
If cabinet approves the funding to renovate the derelict cottage, it is hoped it will be ready to be occupied in May.
Cllr Carl Maw, Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member for stronger communities and housing, said:
"We have been clear from the start that providing quality, sustainable and crucially affordable homes throughout the borough for local people is our top priority.
"The affordability of homes, particularly in our rural areas, has been a long-standing problem for this authority.
“Through schemes like this one in Goathland we will enable current and future generations to remain in the places they grew up and to continue to contribute to a thriving rural economy.”
The renovation of the first cottage by the trust would be the second community-led housing project in the borough the council has supported through the Community Housing Fund.
It follows the successful development of two flats for rent by Hinderwell Almshouses Trust in 2019.