RESIDENTS are moving into the first new homes built in Yate by housing association Merlin.

Newmans Court consists of four one-bedroom flats for social rent and two two-bed flats sold through a shared ownership scheme.

They were opened by Yate mayor Wully Perks and Yate councillor Mike Drew, who also met three of the new occupiers.

Mum-to-be Victoria Waterhouse and Mike Hathaway have bought one of the shared ownership homes in time for their family to increase.

They said they had been living in Mike’s mother’s loft room for three years and were now looking forward to their first Christmas in their first family home.

Jennifer Burke, who has bought the other shared ownership home, said: “I’ve been living in a caravan with my son for the past 15 months so I cannot express how excited I am to finally have a proper home. I never thought I’d be able to afford to get on the property ladder. I can’t wait to move in.”

Merlin aims to build 200 new homes within a 20 mile radius of its head office in Chipping Sodbury by 2015 and its development manager, Peter Crouch, said Newmans Court was a "small but significant" step towards that target.

He said: "Completion of these homes take Merlin’s new homes total over the 50 mark. They are our first homes in Yate and our first shared ownership properties.

"There’s a housing shortage in the South West, average house prices are high and private rents are increasing, so we’re doing all we can to help people find homes.”

The properties were built by McCarthy and Stone as the affordable housing requirement in their planning agreement with South Gloucestershire Council.

Mr Perks said: “It’s great to be able to have the opportunity to celebrate what’s good in Yate. The new development is really helping to enhance the area.

“I’m a keen supporter of Merlin’s ongoing strategy for providing homes for people who need them. It’s done a wonderful job."

Councillor Drew, who is a member of the Merlin Housing Society board, said: “This is Merlin’s first development in Yate and the organisation is perfectly placed to provide the affordable homes element of future developments."