RESIDENTS in Coniston are celebrating after a project to build 11 new affordable homes in the village was saved.

Coniston and Torver Housing Team has been lobbying for almost six years to bring schemes to the village after a survey identified a need for 66 affordable houses to buy or rent.

Plans to build 11 affordable homes at Old Hawkshead Road were put on hold when Eden Housing Association took over the development from Mitre Housing Association and discovered additional costs meant there was a £110,000 shortfall.

However, South Lakeland District Council’s Cabinet voted to re-allocate £70,000 from the Old Furness Road, Coniston, and Broughton Road, Torver, schemes to plug the shortfall.

The council also offered a further £40,000 should the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) - the public body that funds new affordable housing in England - be unable to provide the remaining funding.

Coun Brenda Woof said schemes such as this were a priority otherwise communities would ‘wither and go over the years’.

“We should go for it,” she said.

The scheme needs to be ratified by full council.

Alastair Cameron, chairman of the Coniston and Torver Housing Team - which includes representatives from the housing authority, planning authority, housing associations, landowners within the parish, Coniston Parish Council and the Parish Plan group - was delighted with the result.

“Coniston is what you would classify as a sustainable community at the moment,” said Mr Cameron. “But that could cease to be. If we don’t get the affordable housing, what happens is you see schools close and post offices shut down.

“We really owe (the council) a massive thank you.”

Mr Cameron said the next scheme the team would work for would be plans for eight homes in Torver.