AN ambitious affordable housing scheme that will only be open to people with strong connections to Cookley has been launched in a bid to stop the village from "dying".

Residents were shown early plans for a major 19-apartment block for the site of the dormant parish hall in Lea Lane.

"This scheme is only for people with strong local connections to the village," said Alan Saunders, rural housing enabler for Community First, an organisation which encourages housing firms to set up new schemes.

"This will provide affordable housing in the village for youngsters who can't afford to get on the housing ladder."

Mr Saunders said the village was increasingly occupied by older people moving to a "rural idyll" from throughout the West Midlands.

He added: "If we don't (implement the scheme), the village will die because it will become less sustainable. If you don't keep young people, local employers will move out because there won't be a workforce."

He said 10 flats would be available for rent while the other nine would be financed through a "shared ownership" scheme.

This means the occupier would buy a stake in the property - between 40 and 80 per cent and usually through a mortgage - and pay the rest in rent.

The occupier is given the option of buying a higher percentage of the property over time.

Price estimates were £80,000 for a one-bedroomed flat and £95,000 for a two-bedroomed one - considerably less than if the homes were on the open market.

Rent would be between £55 and £65 a week. Shared owners would pay a cut based on the percentage of property they had bought, so someone who bought 50 per cent of the property would pay 50 per cent rent.

The scheme will be managed by Bromford Housing Group and will need planning permission. Church leaders would then sell the land for the hall to be demolished and replaced elsewhere in Cookley.

Scheme earns positive response

RESIDENTS gave a generally positive response to the plans.

Villagers had prompted the housing plan after a survey by Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council showed the need for more affordable housing in the picturesque rural village.

David Griffin, 38, from nearby Caunsall, said: "I think to afford a house in this area you have to have some capital behind you so it is difficult for youngsters to start up. It is difficult but round here it is probably worse."

Marion Slade-Boulter, the verger at Cookley's St Peter's Church, said: "I agree that we need affordable housing for the young couples starting in life but, at the same time, I would like the project to be built in keeping with the church opposite, so that it doesn't stick out."

Alan Saunders, a key figure behind the scheme, said he had noticed "some resistance" from people living close by but also positive comments from "people who recognise this is something we need to address".