HOUSES at Little Aspley, a small development being built in the picturesque village of Broom, have been earmarked specifically for people with a close local connection to the area.

A recent open afternoon held at the village hall generated a good deal of interest, and two of the six properties available have already been reserved.

The remaining two, three and four bedroom open market homes built by Great Alne-based Linfoot Country Homes are, until early December, available exclusively to people who have a local connection to the village or to neighbouring Bidford, Marlcliff or Barton.

The 'locals only' window continues until December 1 and any homes unreserved after then will be available to the general public.

To qualify as a local, buyers need to have been born in the parish, have lived or worked there for the past 12 months, lived there previously for three years or during the last 12 months, worked there at least 16 hours a week for the past year or have had a parent, sibling or offspring who has lived there for the past three years.

Little Aspley is the latest village scheme to be created by Linfoot Country Homes Limited which specialises in high quality, small-scale, aesthetically sensitive developments in rural areas of the South Midlands. Promoted and supported by the local community it also includes five homes for rent through Warwickshire Rural Housing Association and one on a shared ownership basis.

Little Aspley, which takes its name from the abandoned, medieval settlement of Aspley-juxta-Wixford (meaning Aspley next to Wixford), nestles on the edge of open countryside close to the centre of Broom. It is a spacious development, and the mix of two, three and four bedroom homes, with either a mellow brick or render finish, overlook large, open, landscaped areas.

All homes are highly insulated and have eco features such as air source heat pumps, sustainable storm water drainage systems, A-rated fridge freezers and dishwashers, low energy lighting and rainwater butts.

It is one of a number of Linfoot Country Homes developments offered to people with a local connection before being launched on the market, providing both affordable and local market dwellings. A local choice scheme is also about to commence at Spernal Lane, Great Alne.

Linfoot Country Homes managing director Claire Linfoot McLean commented: “We are very keen to ensure villages continue to thrive. Many people born and brought up in rural areas are forced to move out to find work, send their children to school or afford a home of their own.

“By creating small, aesthetically pleasing pockets of new homes with locals given first choice to reserve them we are helping to ensure a balance of generations within rural areas and hopefully make it economically viable for village shops, pubs and schools to continue operating. When the homes are sold the same criteria apply – ensuring local people always have first choice.”

Linfoot Country Homes is a member of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which was set up to promote best practice in construction. At the end of 2016 it won its second National Company Gold Award and beat off competition from thousands of other construction companies nationwide to be named the most considerate company in the whole of the UK by the scheme.

The stringent assessment procedure saw each company marked on criteria such as the appearance of their sites, respect for the community, protection of the environment, safety and care of their workforce.

Asking prices for the four remaining properties, due for completion in the first three months of 2018, are between £245,000 and £495,000. For more information contact the selling agents Peter Clarke New Homes on 01789 852180.