Work has begun on 15 low-carbon homes for social rent in Moreton-in-Marsh.

They are the first green homes of their kind in the Cotswolds and will feature air-source heating, solar roof panels, electric vehicle charging points and enhanced insulation.

The scheme in Davies Road is a partnership between Cotswold District Council, Cottsway Housing Association and Helix Partnership Homes.

It has been financed by £1.275million grant funding from Homes England and £580,500 developer funding secured in Section 106 contributions from Cotswold District Council, as well as a loan arrangement as part of a finance agreement between the Council and Cottsway.

Helix Group has also provided construction finance to ensure the homes can be completed quickly by summer 2024.

Cllr Joe Harris, leader of Cotswold District Council, said: "The Davies Road site will be the first green home scheme of its kind in the Cotswolds.

"In the face of a growing affordability crisis, we are committed to increasing the number of genuinely affordable homes across the district for local people. Working alongside providers such as Cottsway we can offer people affordable homes, that are not only high quality but are also more sustainable than standard housing and ultimately better for the environment."

Two existing vacant properties have been demolished to make way for the new two and three-bedroom homes, and the site has been cleared ready for construction work to begin in April.

Richard Reynolds, Cottsway's chief executive, said: "Reducing our environmental impact is important to us and this project delivers much-needed affordable homes with sustainable low-carbon features. We're also delighted that the homes will all be available for social rent, currently at around 55-60% of local market rents."

The homes for social rent will be advertised on the Homeseeker Plus website nearer to the time of completion. All applicants will need to be registered with Cotswold District Council.