Homes by the seaside are expected to breathe new life into a corner of a Cumbrian village.

A derelict barn at Croft House Farm in Allonby has been demolished to make way for 15 homes which will provide a range of accommodation.

Builder Frank Scott is the man behind the scheme which is the latest in his portfolio of projects, many of them to close to his home near Silloth.

Mr Scott, 57, has been a builder since leaving Beacon Hill School in Aspatria in 1976. He set up his firm F. Scott Builders Ltd 20 years ago during which time he has been involved in a number of construction schemes.

One was the transformation of Silloth Social Club and an adjoining garage in Waver Street into 10 terraced and semi-detached homes. The project came second in the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) awards for the Best Small Building after being nominated by Allerdale Council.

The firm has just finished a £1.2 million development of bungalows in Lorton Road, Cockermouth and is finishing off a project in Kendal.

Mr Scott, whose eldest son 32-year-old Lee is also involved in the business, said his key word was quality.

“Everything we build is to the highest specifications,” he said. “I believe in quality rather than density while accommodating the affordable.”

In Allonby the barn has been demolished to make way for four affordable homes, three bungalows, four semis and one detached house which will be the showhome.

Consultations closed on the scheme last Friday ahead of a planning decision.

Prices are expected to range from around £100,000 up to the region of £220,000. If all goes to plan the first house will be ready in around 20 weeks.

Mr Scott added: “Allonby is a beautiful location by the sea but it needs more homes. Many of the properties are holiday lets and consequently the school is starting to suffer.

“I have family in Allonby and we were brought up in the Silloth and Westnewton areas so my heart is in the area and I want what is best for it. These homes will be good for Allonby.”

Mr Scott, who is married to Sharon, also has a daughter Frankie, 21, who is studying accountancy in Chester, Jessica, 15, who is at school in Silloth and Billy, 12, who goes to Nelson Thomlinson in Wigton.

He built their family home at Blitterlees near Silloth and the property next door.