EAST Yorkshire is to benefit from a Government scheme to build more affordable homes.

The Homes and Communities Agency has named East Riding Council as one of the successful bidders to its £1.8bn investment programme to deliver more than 150,000 affordable homes nationwide up to 2015.

The council is one of 26 local authorities across the country that was successful in securing funding to allow just over 150 new homes. Further housing will also be provided by housing associations working in the region.

Officers will now enter into further formal contract negotiations to enable the programme to begin in April next year.