Work begins on 350-house scheme
Construction has started on a £77m housing scheme which will provide 350 houses in west Wiltshire.
Persimmon Homes and its sister company Westbury Partnerships joined forces with Wiltshire Council, Aster Communities and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to construct the affordable rented properties.
The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract got the green light from the government at the end of last year. The project will involve a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses, flats and bungalows.
Land has been provided by Wiltshire Council and Persimmon Homes. Westbury Partnerships, working with Aster Communities, will build the properties.
Initial phases will be built in Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Melksham and Hilperton, with the first properties ready to move into during summer 2012.
Plans to build a further 100 homes are also progressing, said the HCA.
John Thomson, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: "I am really pleased the government has approved our business case to ensure these 350 much-needed affordable homes can be built, despite the difficult financial times.
"It is especially important during the economic downturn that we are able to provide enough good quality accommodation for Wiltshire's residents, and also bring much-needed jobs and commercial activities to the area."
