A NEW development of 11 affordable family homes has been completed in Bournemouth.

BCP Council has completed the energy-efficient development on land between Cheshire Drive and Wilkinson Drive.

The development comprises a block of nine two-bedroom flats and two three-bedroom homes.

It will provide homes for local families and tenants will begin to move into the properties in early November.

Cllr Kieron Wilson, portfolio holder for housing and regulatory Services said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing these new properties start to fill up with families.

“I’ve said many times that a home is the foundation on which we all build our lives and that affordable, quality housing is the cornerstone of a happy and healthy community.

“So, I am very proud of what we have delivered, and the difference it will make to those who will live here.”

BCP Council said the homes have been built to the highest eco-standards using “fabric first principles”.

This means they prioritise the energy efficiency of a property from its conception, to create an airtight, insulated building that reduces the amount of energy required to heat the home.

The homes are all fitted with triple glazing and solar panels, and the energy for each property is provided from a renewable source by ground source heat pumps, resulting in greater energy efficiency and lower bills for the tenants.

There is also parking on site and a communal garden for the flats with private gardens for the families living in the houses.

Cllr Wilson added: “This development also shows how we’re putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do – to the benefit of our tenants and the environment.”