Work to bring 12 new affordable homes to the village of North Cerney is underway.

A golden brick ceremony was held for local councillors to celebrate the start of works on the site.

There will be a total of 12 affordable homes on the site – 10 houses and flats for affordable rent and two houses for shared ownership – all of which will be prioritised for people with a connection to the area.

It is hoped that all the homes will be completed and ready to moved into by early 2020.

Cotswold District Council granted funding to support the completion of Cirencester Housing’s scheme in North Cerney

The completion of the homes won’t be the end of Cirencester Housing’s involvement in North Cerney.

Maureen Margrie, Cirencester Housing’s chief executive, explained: “Cirencester Housing, as a not-for-profit housing association, builds small numbers of community-focused and affordable homes in villages and rural areas, helping people stay in their local area, ensuring that the homes are always affordable and keeping rural communities together.

"We are delighted to be building new homes in North Cerney and we will continue to manage these homes once they have been built, for many years to come.”

A joint project to identify land and deliver affordable housing was agreed by North Cerney Parish Council, Bagendon Parish Council, Cirencester Housing, Cotswold District Council and the wider community.