THE hunt for a suitable site for housing in Draycott and Rodney Stoke could soon be over. Developers who want to build affordable homes for the two villages have narrowed the choices down to one site, and will be approaching the landowner this week.

THE hunt for a suitable site for housing in Draycott and Rodney Stoke could soon be over.

Developers who want to build affordable homes for the two villages have narrowed the choices down to one site, and will be approaching the landowner this week.

Representatives from the Housing Association, Community Council for Somerset, Mendip District Council and Rodney Stoke Parish Council originally had 10 or 11 sites in mind.

After meetings with County Highways and studies into the accessibility of each site, including their proximity to services such as post offices and shops, organisers of the scheme narrowed it down to one site.

The Community Council's rural housing enabler, Felix Marsh said: "The affordable housing project is aimed at people who are in some way involved in the two villages.

"As we are in the process of approaching the landowner, we cannot yet reveal the exact location.

"We have our fingers crossed that the landowner will agree to sell the land, otherwise we will have to look at the other sites again."

A survey carried out in the area revealed that 12 units were needed for Draycott and Rodney Stoke. The land developers are looking at would be large enough to accommodate this.

Mr Marsh added: "Six of the buildings would be for rent and the others would be 'new build home buy', which means the people who move in would have shared ownership of the building, partly owned by them and partly owned by the Housing Association."

Affordable housing benefits people in communities 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.

Mr Marsh will approach the landowner this week and report to the parish council at its meeting on January 17.