AFFORDABLE housing in Thornbury has been taken off the property market because of a lack of interest.

A number of flats and houses on the Bath Road estate in the town that were originally intended for first-time buyers will now be used to house people from South Gloucestershire Council’s housing waiting list.

The four apartments and two houses were built as part of a 45-unit Barratt David Wilson development in the centre of Thornbury.

Under a section 106 agreement, which encourages developers to give something back to community, these six properties were supposed to be available as part of the government’s Homebuy scheme.

The scheme lets people move into a new home on a part-buy, part-rent basis. As circumstances change, the occupant can buy further shares until they own the whole home.

However, since 2007, when the agreement was made, the housing market has slumped and now Somer Community Housing Trust, a social landlord in charge of the homes, has asked South Gloucestershire Council to make the properties available for social rent.

The properties were on the market for as little as £58,000 plus £72.50 rent per calendar month.

Helen O’Connor, a council planning officer, said: "Housing needs in the area would suggest there is a huge need for renting. This will support our housing policy."

Members of South Gloucestershire Council’s development control committee were unanimous in their support for the properties’ change of use at a meeting held last Thursday.

Clare Fardell, South Gloucestershire councillor for Thornbury, said: "I’m extremely pleased that this will not reduce the number of affordable housing. We would of course like to increase it.

"We were very pleased a couple of years ago when we were able to secure 33 percent affordable housing on the site in the first place."

Sandra O’Neill, South Gloucestershire councillor for Charfield, said: "I think it is better that these properties are occupied than not."

The decision to change the use of the properties will now have to go through a formal legal process before it is complete and the homes become available.