Work has started on seven new affordable homes for local people in Stonehouse.

Representatives from Homes England, Stroud District Council, Standish Parish Council and the mayor of Stonehouse, joined Two Rivers Housing for a tour of the former Stagholt Pavilion site in Stonehouse.

Two Rivers bought the land, which was originally earmarked for private housing, from Stonehouse Town Council in December 2018. A grant from Homes England and funding from Stroud District Council has enabled the housing association to develop the entire site for affordable homes.

The scheme is being built by Harper Group and will include hree shared ownership properties and four homes available to rent. Each property has two bedrooms and off-road parking for two cars and will be available from July this year.

Terri Hibberd, development manager at Two Rivers Housing, said: "We are very pleased to be able to offer seven new affordable homes in Stonehouse. These homes will provide local people with the opportunity to part-buy or rent a property in the village in which they grew up. There is a real shortage of affordable housing in rural locations and the funding from Homes England and Stroud District Council has enabled us to develop this site entirely for that purpose."

Two Rivers Housing has committed to build 1,000 new homes by 2028. These homes will be a mix of low-cost rent and shared ownership properties - the option to step towards home ownership through part-rent, part-buy.

Cllr Chas Townley from Stroud District Council said: "Working with Homes England, we have been able to support Two Rivers to provide high quality affordable homes on land adjacent to Stonehouse. This is a good example of partnership working helping to meet local housing needs."