WORK is progressing well on a new housing development which will provide affordable homes for local people.

South Lakes Housing (SLH) revealed its development at Boon Town, Burton-in-Kendal, is on track for completion by the summer.

The organisation said all the 28 homes are affordable and there will be a mix of 16 for social rent and 12 for shared ownership.

There will be local connection criteria for those wishing to move in and SLH will work with Cumbria Choice to ensure the properties are inhabited by people from the area.

“This is a great opportunity to provide local people with affordable homes and it’s an exciting time for South Lakes Housing as we look to the future,” said Lucy Cheetham, development manager at South Lakes Housing.

SLH is using the development to trial more environmentally friendly technologies that they hope will also reduce tenants’ energy bills.

Two of the properties will have air source heat pumps installed instead of gas boilers, which, under current plans, the Government is intent on phasing out in newly built homes from 2025.

Properties have improved fabric insulation and PV Panels and Battery Storage are currently being installed.

As a result, the homes will all have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A.

“We’re learning loads from developments like this,” said Ms Cheetham.

“And we’re addressing affordable warmth for our tenants, which should really help with increasing energy prices.”

The project has been funded by SLH and Homes England.

And SLH is working in partnership to deliver the new homes with Elliott Associates, South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), Tyson Construction, IDPartnerships, Wardhadaway and R G Parkins.

A spokesman for SLDC said: “These fantastic new homes will help towards SLDC's target of seeing 477 affordable homes for rent and 588 affordable homes to buy delivered between 2020 and 2025.