A RECORD number of affordable homes have been built in rural North Yorkshire in the last 12 months.

A total of 174 properties, classed as affordable, were built in North and East Yorkshire, bringing the total to 750 built over the past six years.

The North and East Yorkshire Rural Housing Enabler Network and its partners, who built the homes, exceeded their annual target of 100.

Of the 174 which were built, 31 were in national parks, 155 for rent and the remaining 19 for low cost home ownership.

They included homes in Hutton Rudby, Grassington and Helmsley.

The figures have been released ahead of Rural Housing Week, which begins on July 3.

Councillor Richard Foster, chair of the Rural Housing Enabler Network and the Housing Board said: “Our unique partnership means we are able to provide enhanced support to our rural communities and other partners to develop good quality affordable homes.

"In future years, we hope to see additional new homes delivered by communities themselves and we look forward to working with those groups to continue to meet the housing needs of rural communities.”

The York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Housing Board approved a new Rural Housing Enabler programme to run from 2015 to 2018.

Local authorities in North Yorkshire, the North York Moors National Park and 16 housing association partners continue to fund the programme as efforts continue to triple the supply of new affordable homes across the area.

For more information on the network visit; nycyerhousing.co.uk/rural-affordable-housing/