FIVE new energy efficient homes for affordable rent and shared ownership have been completed in North Woodchester.

The properties, near St Mary’s Church, each have allocated parking spaces, private gardens and are within walking distance of the village school.

Tenants have already moved into the three affordable-rent terraced homes, and the two semi-detached shared ownership homes have been reserved. The homes were built by Speller Metcalfe on behalf of Stroud District Council.

Despite suffering a nine-week shutdown due to Coronavirus, the project was completed ahead of the revised schedule, enabling families to be settled in before Christmas.

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.

Work will begin on 36 new energy efficient affordable homes in Eastington, Minchinhampton and Nailsworth in the new year.

Stroud District Council built 239 homes for its own stock of rented properties between 2014 and 2019, and has an action plan to build 111 more.