AFFORDABLE homes to help the next generation get on the property ladder have been unveiled.

Social housing firm Stonewater, house builders Mi-space and Swindon Borough Council members celebrated the completion of 48 new homes in St Quentin Close, Stratton-St-Margaret.

A ribbon-cutting event officially opened the £6.2m development which took two years to complete.

The homes, which are near the Honda plant in Highworth Road will be up for rent and shared ownership with priority given to local people in need of housing.

St Quentin's housing community was built on the site of a redundant council works depot and includes 21 one and two bedroom apartments and 22 two, three and four bedroom houses for rent.

Five further houses are also available for shared ownership, which means people can purchase a share of the property and pay a reduced rent on the remaining portion.

Councillor Oliver Donachie, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said the properties would be used to house people on the council waiting list.

“We have been working closely with Stonewater to help them deliver this development so I was delighted to be asked to attend the official opening,” he said.

“These homes will help those who are struggling to get on the property ladder and will directly benefit people who are on our housing waiting list.”

All the houses have been built to Sustainable Code Level 3 standards which make them energy efficient and cheaper to run.

Houses also have their own private garden with parking spaces for all and a play area for children living in the development.

It was built with a £330,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency and £66,000 from the Recycled Capital Grant Fund. The scheme created an estimated 40 jobs during its construction.

Jonathan Layzell, Stonewater’s executive director of development said there had already been a huge amount of interest in the properties.

“Interest in St Quentin Close has been overwhelming and the development is already oversubscribed,” he said.

“The fact that so many local people have applied for these properties highlights a real need for more truly affordable homes in the area where many local people with a connection to Swindon, are being priced out of the housing market.

“We are delighted to have completed these much-needed homes and look forward to working with the council and our construction partners to create more affordable homes where they are most needed in the borough.”