THE first residents of a new shared ownership housing development in Boscombe are moving in this month.

The £1.9 million Cherries Court site, funded through sales, the Homes and Community Agency and Bournemouth council, contains 11 houses.

Aimed at local families looking to get onto the property ladder, the development comprises six three-beds and five two-beds, made affordable to first time buyers via the shared ownership scheme.

Councillor Robert Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said: "Cherries Court is an exciting development and I am delighted that local families are benefitting from the opportunities of home ownership that this scheme provides.

"The council is committed to provide housing of all tenures and enabling local residents to gain a foothold on the property ladder is one of our priorities."

The borough was recently criticised by the local Liberal Democrat party after figures revealed only 12 new social housing units were built in 2016/17, despite there being more than 4,000 people on the waiting list.

For information about the scheme visit bournemouth.gov.uk/cherriescourthousing