First Community Land Trust

And community members are required to join the trust's board to oversee the project through to occupation of the properties.

The Chipping Community Land Trust aims to develop the properties on land next to the village's memorial hall.

The properties will provide much-needed rented accommodation for villagers and people with a Chipping connection.

Rachael Stott, Ribble Valley Borough Council's strategic housing manager, said: "Community land trusts are powerful examples of communities taking control and transforming their future.

"The trusts develop housing that meets the needs of the community and at permanently affordable rents. They are non-profit-making, run by volunteers and are owned and controlled by the community.

"Chipping is one of several villages in Ribble Valley with an extremely high income to house price ratio and chronic lack of affordable housing, so this scheme will provide vital rented accommodation.

"We are delighted to be supporting the Chipping Community Land Trust, which is the first in Ribble Valley and the first in Lancashire."

Development starts soon on the properties, which will be managed by Ribble Valley Homes.

Community members are required to join the trust's board to oversee the project through to occupation of the properties.

The trust meets every six to eight weeks and membership of the board is open to anyone with an interest in Chipping.

To register for one of the Chipping properties, phone Ribble Valley Homes on 0800 1114448. To join the Chipping Community Land Trust board, phone Ribble Valley Borough Council's housing team on 01200 414567.

*Chipping is situated on the edge of the Trough Of Bowland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has won a number of Best Kept Village competitions over the years. It is known to be at least 1,000 years old and is named in the Domesday Book as Chippenden, coming from the medieval "chepyn," meaning marketplace.