COUNCILLORS have agreed to award a grant of £120,000 to help provide eight ‘affordable’ rented homes in Tolpuddle.

Members of West Dorset District Council’s executive committee met at South Walks House today to discuss awarded the grant to Hastoe Housing Association, which has been working together with C G Fry’s for a number of years to bring forward an affordable housing development to Tolpuddle.

A report told councillors that the grant would be funded from S106 agreement contributions held from developments at Tolpuddle and Dorchester.

The report said: “By using S106 funds to complement the Homes and Communities Agency grant this scheme can be developed; if this opportunity is lost then it is unlikely this site will ever be developed for affordable homes.”

The Homes and Community Agency has provisionally allocated funding of £203,000 for affordable homes built on the site.

A planning application supported by Puddletown Parish Council has been submitted for eight affordable homes, one of which will be an adapted property for a disabled person.

Priority for these homes will be given to people with a local connection to the area.

A public consultation was held in October 2014 to show the scheme to the local community and gain feedback about the development.

Cllr Tim Yarker, West Dorset District Council’s spokesman for housing, said: “Our rural communities need good quality affordable housing for local families if they are to remain vibrant.

“This is why we are working hard to promote and support schemes such as this one at Tolpuddle.”