Applications for a scheme helping young families looking to get on the property ladder in an area dominated by second homes will open in Portinscale.

The Pow Wood development has been designed to offer four affordable houses each with 3 bedrooms, enabling young families to own their own homes and stay in their native area.

The Chairman of the Above Derwent Community Land Trust (ADCLT) Don Thornburn confirmed that a selection process will now follow with the homes set to be ready later this year: "Our selection process will award houses on a points scoring system.

"The ADCLT is all about helping young people in our community to stay local. All of the people on the board are local people.

"House prices have sky rocketed and young families just cannot afford to buy properties in the area."

Mr Thoburn confirmed that 50 per cent of all homes in Stonethwaite are either second homes or holiday lets.

In the Above Derwent Community Parish, there are 320 holiday let properties he adds.

Alongside gaining permission from Lake District National Park Council, the plans also received the backing of both Allerdale Borough Council and Homes England.

"The land we secured is amenity land and is not usually allocated for housing but the Local Authority have a duty to provide affordable houses and because we are a community land trust that ensured that we were able to gain permission.

"We were hoping to finish them by around October but due to the pandemic, there have been shortages with building materials."