More than 200 affordable homes are set to be built in Wiltshire thanks to the approval of a £42.5million scheme.

The scheme will see the county council working with local communities to create, own and run 226 affordable homes for families and elderly residents across the county.

The plans are in line with the council’s commitment to encourage appropriate development of new affordable homes, including supported living in rural areas and investment in refurbishing council housing.

Wiltshire Council's Cabinet have agreed the plans which will fund homes for elderly people on council-owned land in rural settlements, deliver extra care accommodation in market towns and invest in sites using its own housing funds to develop a wide variety of properties.

Working with parish and town councils will be key to the plans and Wiltshire Council officers have met representatives to establish which communities would benefit from homes for older people or young families. 

As well as creating new homes, the plan will also see the council continuing to invest in remodelling and refurbishing existing council homes and expand their housing stock to ensure local people can continue to live in their communities.

More than £42million, largely from the Housing Revenue Account, which is money accrued from rents from existing council housing stock, will be used to fund the scheme over the next five years.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for housing, said: “Wiltshire Council is committed to providing new affordable homes and this is an excellent way to utilise unused council-owned land to provide a much needed housing solution in this county. 

"We will be particularly looking to provide affordable homes for our older residents in rural communities so they can continue to enjoy and be part of their own local communities.”

Maggie Rae, corporate director, said: “New affordable housing will help to meet the housing needs in Wiltshire, particularly those of older people. It will help them continue to live independently in the community and improve their quality of life.”