A BID to increase affordable housebuilding in South Lakeland has been boosted thanks to the sale of public land at knock-down prices.

South Lakeland District Council’s policy of selling council-owned land at a discount to housing associations has led to 95 new homes being built in the district since 2006.

Restrictions imposed by the authority mean the land can only be used for an affordable housing and that households on the SLDC’s housing register are given priority as tenants.

Brenda Gray, portfolio holder for housing and development, said: “The council’s top priority is affordable housing and we will continue to work together with the housing associations to try to identify land for future developments. Local families have benefited from the 95 houses that have already been built and hopefully more local people will be able to continue living in the district if we can provide more affordable housing in the future.”

The land has been developed by three local housing associations, Impact Housing, Two Castles and Home Housing.

Since April 2006 there have been a number of developments completed successfully in Kendal, Ulverston, Burneside and Burton-in-Kendal.

Funds have been secured for ten affordable homes on the site of the former council depot in Milnthorpe and five affordable homes on a former council garage site in Kendal. Other potential sites have also been identified for possible future development.