TALKS have taken place about building nearly 300 new affordable homes in the Lake District.

Housing association South Lakes Housing and South Lakeland District Council have held discussions about providing cheaper homes in the national park.

According to an SLDC report, 21 sites have been identified where 294 homes could go.

The housing association is “confident” at least 120 homes could be delivered in parts of the national park which are in South Lakeland, although the specific sites have not yet been revealed.

In December last year, South Lakeland District Council established a £6 million affordable housing loans scheme.

It provides housing associations with access to long-term lending for affordable  housing projects.

At a meeting of SLDC’s cabinet in Kendal tomorrow, councillors are being asked to start the ball rolling on an initial scheme.

South Lakes Housing plans 48 new affordable dwellings in areas outside of the main towns of Kendal and Ulverston.

A report to go before the meeting said: “Since December 2017, South Lakes Housing has, in discussion with SLDC, been developing a programme for delivering housing in more constrained areas such as the Lake District National Park.

“To deliver the full programme proposed by South Lakes Housing, the initial facility of £6m would require additional funding of £9 million for a total of £15 million. Further funding will depend on the success of early pilot schemes.”

The Lake District National Park Authority has warned that the park’s  population is decreasing due to a lack of affordable housing.

It said: “The local demographic is becoming unbalanced, the proportion of working people is decreasing, there are increasing levels of second home ownership and properties used for holiday letting purposes, and the need for more affordable homes remains acute.

“These factors are beginning to challenge the future vibrancy and resilience of our communities.”

Based on the level of identified housing need, the national park has said it needs a “minimum” of 1,200 new permanent homes between 2019-2034.