A PIONEERING community project to build affordable houses in Worth Matravers is on track to be completed this year.

The Worth Community Property Trust, which is run by volunteers, plans to build five affordable homes in the sought-after village, where 50 per cent of properties are now second homes.

These low cost homes will go to villagers, who would otherwise be squeezed out by spiralling property prices, on a shared ownership or rental basis.

With planning permission already in place chairman Bob Kenyon said the trust was in the final phases of drawing up a legal agreement which will mean the homes remain affordable in perpetuity.

He told the Daily Echo: "The best case scenario is we will have them completed by the summer or the beginning of autumn.

"If we can do that it will be just three years from having the idea and starting up the trust, overcoming all those barriers, and actually getting the houses built and people living in them. That's what we're aiming for."

The trust will need to borrow £400,000 to finance the project, which will be repaid when the properties are sold or rented.

It has received £20,000 from Purbeck District Council after a unanimous vote of support by councillors.

Mr Kenyon added: "The money will help to cover the gap between what we have to pay in interest to build the houses and what we are able to charge.

"It enables us to provide houses for all those on the list and not exclude those who can only afford to rent."

The trust is a non-profit organisation for the benefit of the community. After building the affordable housing it plans to deliver local shops and small business units to help keep the village alive.

The houses will be built on the northern edge of the village on a rural exception site where planning consent would not normally be granted, but an exception is made for affordable houses.