TWO rural housing schemes have been given the go ahead by a local authority as it agrees to contribute significant funding.

In April, affordable housing schemes in rural Akrigg and rural Arkengarthdale, announced their intentions to bid for around £150,000 each in cash from a fund held by Richmondshire District Council.

The Community Led Housing Fund, which was established in 2017, is intended for the local authority to support the creation of affordable homes.

But, following a waiting period of around a week and once bids had been finalised, Richmondshire District Councillors confirmed they had agreed to contribute a total of £295,000 to both schemes.

Members of the council's corporate board approved a grant of £150,000 to the Askrigg scheme, whilst £145,000 was given to the Arkengarthdale scheme.

As the funding has now been approved, the Askrigg foundation will push ahead with its plans to turn two market place properties into three affordable homes.

Whilst the Upper dales Community Land Trust will build four homes near the Methodist Chapel in Langthwaite.

MP for Richmondshire Rishi Sunak previously criticised those who were against rural affordable housing.

He claimed that whenever proposals for new and affordable rural homes had been submitted, opposition groups from surrounding areas were quick to 'mobilise' against them. Mr Sunak suggested that this opposition against rural affordable housing dissuaded young homeowners in rural North Yorkshire.