MONEY from developers will be used to create more affordable housing in the South Downs.

The South Downs National Park Authority has announced grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 are now available for affordable homes.

The National Park has some of the highest house prices in the country.

Council officers said properties are in high demand with high-income urban households looking to move into the countryside but a shortage of land is holding them back.

Margaret Paren, chairwoman of the South Downs National Park Authority, said: “Our new grants will contribute to the delivery of desperately-needed affordable homes in the national park.

Whilst all affordable dwellings on these special sites will be eligible, our funding will be aimed at social homes to be rented at the lowest rates possible, with the aim to keep the housing affordable in perpetuity.

“We want them to become permanent additions to the stock of affordable homes in the South Downs National Park.

“The consequences of a lack of affordable housing are severe with low income families facing a difficult future – having to move, often having to leave family and friends and jobs.

“This can destabilise villages, forcing out low income households and starving local services of employees and customers.

“With many jobs in the National Park being relatively low paid, people often can’t afford to live near their work and will often have to drive.

“That is an added expense which also increases traffic congestion and pollution.”

A council spokesman said the recently submitted South Downs Local Plan recognises the scale of this issue and seeks provision for affordable housing on both large and small developments.

If endorsed by the Planning Inspectorate, new policies will require that 50 per cent of dwellings in developments of 11 or more homes should be affordable.

For developments smaller than this there would be a sliding scale.

For example a development with eight houses would have to deliver three affordable homes or a development with four or five houses having to deliver one affordable home.

Even developers building just three new homes would be required to make a financial contribution towards affordable housing.

People involved in community-led housing initiatives who would like to know more about the grant scheme should contact mark.alden@southdowns.gov.uk