Fifteen high quality affordable homes. in Drimpton, near Bridport, are to receive their first tenants in the next few weeks, thanks to the hard-work of a Community Land Trust.

Northcombe Lea, the affordable housing site at Netherhay Lane, Drimpton, comprises a mixture of apartments and one, two and three bedroomed homes and has come to fruition due to the passion of the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust (BGP CLT).

Rowland Hibbard, BGP CLT chairman, said the lack of affordable rural housing for local people had been raised more than 10 years ago.

"The Broadwindsor Group Parish Plan in 2012 highlighted the lack of affordable homes for rent in this area and this was raised again during community consultations for the Neighbourhood Plan of 2018," he said.

Mr Hibbard said there was a danger that local people employed in agriculture, light industry or the care home sector would be priced out of the rental housing market and would have to move to Bridport or Crewkerne.

Following a plea by Broadwindsor Group Parish Council for volunteers from within the local community, the Community Land Trust was established in 2016 and it acquired the freehold of a 1.5 ha development site from the Hedditch family.

Following feasibility studies, funded Homes England, and invaluable advice from the Community Land Trust specialists Middemarch, the CLT went out to tender to appoint a development partner.

The tender was awarded to Abri, formerly Yarlington Housing Group, and the CLT appointed Devon-based architects Trewin Design, before successfully applying for planning permission.

Abri then put out a tender for the construction work, which was won by CG Fry & Son, who started on site in December 2021.

Abri has been managing the build process and will be responsible for the maintenance and management of the tenancies.

Sheila Hawkins, BGP CLT secretary, said meetings were held in Broadwindsor and Drimpton earlier this year encouraging local families on the council's housing register to apply for the homes and a total of 29 families responded.

Ms Hawkins said the site would provide a lasting legacy for the community, adding: "Why shouldn't everyone have a decent house to live in? We want to keep our community thriving and support people born and brought up here. While it has taken longer than we would have liked, it's so exciting seeing it come to fruition."

Despite the sudden death of their longstanding former chairman, David Leader, in 2022, the passion, commitment and hard work had paid off, said Ms Hawkins, and she urged other Community Land Trusts to take the plunge to support local people in their communities.

"We looked at a number of other CLT sites – Lyme Regis, Powerstock, Marshwood, Whitchurch Canonicorum, which was really helpful," she said.

The BGP CLT will benefit from a small income of ground rent from Abri, which will be used to help benefit other community projects within the parish area.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, lead member for housing at Dorset Council, said the council was working on several affordable schemes which would help enhance its vision for thriving communities where everyone has a good quality home.

"Our Housing Strategy consultation, which will be launched shortly supports the development of affordable housing and these homes are a fantastic example of groups working together to benefit the community," he said.

Sam Stone, associate director of land and planning at Abri, said: "Abri is committed to helping strengthen communities and working closely with Broadwindsor CLT we've been able to create homes that best suit their needs and will remain genuinely affordable.

"We're really proud of this partnership approach as it allows people to stay in their local area and gives a long-standing legacy for the community."