RESIDENTS in Churchill have been given a helping hand to get on the property ladder.

RESIDENTS in Churchill have been given a helping hand to get on the property ladder.

An affordable housing scheme off Ladymead Lane was given approval at a meeting of North Somerset Council's south area committee on November 21.

The plans for eight terraced houses, four flats, 20 car parking spaces and a new access road were passed unanimously.

At the beginning of the meeting, during public participation, parish councillor Brenden Hill encouraged councillors to approve the plans.

He said: "This application is the result of five years hard work by the parish council. There have been high levels of community engagement and there is a lot of support for this project.

"The scheme will make a huge difference to the lives of families in the village and it will maintain sustainability."

The parish council also showed its approval for the plans with a vote of eight for and only one against at its meeting on November 12.

The project, to be situated on part of the playing field of the village's former primary school, will be implemented by English Rural Housing Association.

Parish council chairman, Pam Millward, said: "I think it's great that this scheme has been approved. It's what we need for our village.

"It's good news for the community and I look forward to them being built now."

Affordable housing benefits people who would be unable to purchase a home on the housing market.

It is designed to help young families, first-time buyers or people with low incomes.