Home on the Farm scheme to receive grant from district council

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

An innovative scheme designed by local MP Tim Farron to provide affordable housing has been granted funding by South Lakeland District Council to help convert unused farm buildings into affordable housing.

South Lakeland District Council have agreed to provide a grant of up to £30,000 to cover part of the cost of Mr Farron's Home on the Farm scheme, which would allow underused farm buildings to undergo conversion into affordable housing.

Under the scheme, large disused or underused farm buildings would be converted into affordable housing with 100% local occupancy. Mr Farron is confident that the grant from South Lakeland District Council will pave the way for many more disused farm buildings to be converted into affordable homes for local families.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"We are in desperate need of affordable housing in our area. The average house price is £250k while the average wage is around just £17k, so the grant from South Lakeland District for the Home on the Farm scheme is a welcome cash injection.

"Thirty percent of young people in South Lakeland leave the area and never come back because they are unable to get on the housing ladder. My Home on the Farm scheme will help provide the affordable housing that will stop that trend.

"Now that we have financial backing from SLDC, we can start building more housing where the infrastructure already exists and provide more affordable housing for families in South Lakeland."