A START date for work on 100 affordable homes in Langport has been outlined.

Housing provider Abri has taken on development of a site off Somerton Road, which first received outline approval in December 2023.

The scheme includes 44 homes for shared ownership and 56 homes for social rent for townsfolk.

The firm’s in-house construction team will build the homes, and Abri said it will use its own funding alongside grant funding from Homes England (the government’s housing delivery agency), to make the properties affordable.

With more than 12,000 people currently on the waiting list for an affordable home in Somerset, the developer said the homes will make a “significant contribution to the supply of affordable housing in the area”.

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Phillippa Yeates, head of land and planning at Abri, said: “These homes will help address the pressing need for affordable housing which is essential in ensuring that everyone has a place to call home.

“Abri is committed to building 10,000 homes by 2030 as we know the vital contribution homes play for local people in our communities.

“To ensure the highest quality standards, our in-house construction team will oversee the build process.

“Wherever possible, we’ll also engage local tradespeople, supporting the local economy and creating job opportunities within the community.”

How the development in Langport could look. Picture: Abri

The homes will include a mix of one-bedroom apartments, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, as well as two bungalows adapted for wheelchair users.

Sustainable features will also be incorporated into the properties, including air-source heat pumps for energy efficient heating, high levels of insulation and solar panels to help reduce energy bills.

Subject to final planning approval, construction is anticipated to start in 2026 and the homes are expected to be completed in 2028.

Back in 2023, Somerset Council approved the application, though councillors at the time said they were not happy.