A SCHEME to encourage affordable housing in Devon wants to involve communities in a bid to provide much-needed homes quickly.

The initiative is part-funded by Devon County Council (DCC), to the tune of �50,000, and advises on setting up Community Land Trusts (CLTs).

CLTs buy or are sometimes given sites by landowners who want to ensure a site benefits the community.

Homes are then built on the land and made available at affordable prices to local people.

DCC’s cabinet member for economy, Councillor Will Mumford, said: “CLTs are an ideal vehicle to create affordable homes in Devon at a time when people are struggling financially, still facing the challenge of the very high cost of housing and excessive demand for our existing housing stock.

“We have taken best practice and shared this to enable communities to move much more quickly to a local solution. This is all about local solutions to address local need and I would urge communities to take advantage of this fantastic programme.”