LABOUR’s cabinet minister for housing came to lend his support to the building of 51 new council homes in Leonard Stanley.

The new development, in Mankley Road, will see a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes built on the site of 23 former council homes.

John Healey, shadow minister for housing and planning, met with leader of Stroud District Council leader Geoff Wheeler and district councillors Mattie Ross, Steve Lydon and Doina Cornell.

Mr Healey said: "This new housing development at Mankley Road demonstrates exactly the sort of new council housing we need in many other areas, and for which we will have to argue hard over the next few years.

"The quality, range of properties and short time it has taken to build is very impressive and a credit to leader Geoff Wheeler and his colleagues at Stroud District Council."

The Homes and Communities Agency has provided funding of around £1 million for the Mankley Road scheme, due to be completed in September. SDC 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.

Cllr Mattie Ross, (Labour, Stonehouse) chairman of SDC’s housing committee, said: “As is common with traditional council estates, this was a large site with very big gardens.

"When completed, this development will have more than double the number of homes.

"The gardens will still be of a decent size but we’ll be making more effective use of the land so that more people have the opportunity to live in an affordable home.”