PLANS for 23 affordable homes in Eastington have been given the green light.

Stroud District Council granted planning permission for the affordable housing scheme at Claypits yesterday.

"We're really pleased," said Tom Low of Eastington Community Land Trust (ECLT).

"We've been working very hard towards this.

"The plans were 100 per cent supported, there was no opposition at all, so it was signed off by the head of planning."

Councillor Chas Townley, who chairs SDC’s housing committee, posted on social media: "This is fantastic news.

"Real credit goes to the ECLT, the group behind this scheme.

"There were 15 letters of support and no objections to the scheme."

Housing association, Aster Group is working with Eastington Community Land Trust to deliver this new collection of homes specifically for local people.

The development of 23 homes will be offered entirely for affordable rent and will consist of one-bedroom bungalows, one-bedroom flats and two and three-bedroom houses.

The homes will be built by local construction company EG Carter & Co Ltd, and will be offered primarily to people with a local connection.

The development has been designed with consideration to the environment and will incorporate acoustic fencing and the enabling of electric vehicle charging points.

Tom Morrison, chairman of Eastington CLT said:“This is an excellent example of how community-led housing will make a real impact in addressing an identified affordable housing need in our rural community.

“The delivery of this development in partnership with Aster will be the culmination of an extraordinary level of community involvement and commitment over a number of years.

“On behalf of the CLT, I therefore wish to express our gratitude to the various individuals that were involved from the outset of this project for providing the CLT with the support to enable us to deliver these much needed homes.”

Tom Low of ECLT said: "We're delighted that we've managed to achieve this.

"We're a very positive community, and this is a reflection of that."

Karl Hine, development manager – community housing, for Aster said: “We’re proud to be working alongside Eastington CLT to bring much-needed affordable homes to the parish.

“This is our second development working with a CLT in Gloucestershire which shows that CLT’s are becoming more and more popular, with local people coming together to find solutions to the lack of housing in their communities.

“These new homes in Eastington will give local people the opportunity to stay in the parish in which they grew up, rather than being priced out by high private rents.”

The homes are forecast to be completed around May 2020.

Stroud District Council funds a community enabler, who provides information and support on affordable housing schemes such as this one.

For further information visit: grcc.org.uk/affordable-housing/stroud-district-community-led-housing