Cotswold District Council has agreed to support the building of 29 affordable homes in Moreton-in-Marsh and Avening by allocating nearly £900,000 from its commuted sums funds.

The homes are being brought forward in partnership with the Cottsway Housing Association and Bromford Housing Association on behalf of Gloucestershire Rural Housing Association.

They will see a mix of social rented homes and shared ownership units built in the coming years, subject to the funding being secured and permissions being acquired, providing houses that those on lower incomes or starting on the housing ladder can afford.

The move forms part of the council’s wider ambitions to increase the number of affordable homes in the district as house prices soar and local people struggle to afford to buy and rent in the Cotswolds and stay in their local area.

Councillor Lisa Spivey, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “In the face of a growing affordability crisis, in February last year we set out our ambition as a council to increase the number of genuinely affordable homes across the district for local people.

“We have been working hard with housing providers to turn that ambition into a reality.

"Where we can we are using available funding to create truly affordable homes here in the Cotswolds.

"This is a great example of that work, and we want to bring forward other schemes in the coming months.

“It is also brilliant to see developments like this coming forward that are not only affordable but also more sustainable than standard housing, benefitting not only our local communities but the environment as well.

"Again this is the result of engaging with housing associations to ensure our corporate goals of improving residents’ lives.”

Cllr Richard Morgan, leader of the Opposition Conservative Group and ward member for Grumbolds Ash with Avening added: "Cotswold District Council has been working on this project in Avening since 2015, and I would like to thank Avening Parish Council and numerous local residents who engaged with the planning process and made valuable suggestions as to how the council and our housing partners could improve this new development.

"I am delighted we managed to secure a number of last minute green additions like air-source heat pumps, solar panels and electric car charging points which will future proof this housing.

"It is also great news that a large chunk of this commuted sums finance will be invested in Avening.

"I would now encourage qualifying local residents, or people with a local connection to Avening to get on the housing register ASAP and express an interest in these new social rented homes and shared ownership units."