Work has started on the next phase of Stroud District Council's plan to build new homes for affordable rent and shared ownership in Nailsworth, Minchinhampton and Eastington.

Thirty-six energy efficient, adaptable homes will be built across three sites at a cost of £5.3million, 11 of them for older people.

The first work is underway on 20 homes at a former sheltered housing scheme at Ringfield Close, Nailsworth, with a scheduled completion in December.

Seven homes at Summersfield Road, Minchinhampton and nine bungalows for older people at Broadfield Road, Eastington will be started in March and are due to be completed later this year.

Councillor Mattie Ross, chair of the council's housing committee said: "Affordable housing is a key priority for the Stroud District Council and these homes demonstrate our ongoing commitment to positively contributing to the provision of affordable, good quality homes that meet current and future needs."

More than 90 per cent of material from the old properties will be reused or recycled with masonry crushed on site and used for constructing the foundations and roads.

Metal, wood, plastic and glass will be removed and recycled at a sorting depot.

Beard Construction has been appointed as the contractor with Kendall Kingscott acting as employer's agent, clerk of works and principal designer.

Stroud District Council is the only local authority in Gloucestershire which still owns and manages council houses with the others having transferred them into other social housing organisations.