A £7 MILLION project to build six new children's homes in Hampshire is underway.

Hampshire County Council is building the six new homes with the latest in energy efficient technology.

One of the six homes is being built in the Test Valley area, while the first being constructed is in the New Forest and is set to be finished in the late autumn of 2016.

The other four homes are being built in Eastleigh, Fareham, Winchester and Havant.

The new properties will be smaller than the current children's homes and will house four children and their carers.

They are being built using the latest in construction technology and a low energy standard known as Passivhaus.

Passivhaus has been developed in Germany, and means the requirement to heat and cool spaces is dramatically reduced through the use of high levels of insulation within the framework of the entire building.

It also ensures that the buildings are draught-proof with the use of triple glazed windows.

The use of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery will result in both energy efficiencies and financial savings, and well proportioned windows and skylights help to maximise natural daylight meaning energy use from electric lighting will be significantly lowered.

Costs to heat hot water will be minimised with the use of solar thermal panels.

Councillor Keith Mans, cabinet member for children’s services at the council said: “I am really pleased that we have taken the opportunity to be innovative in the building of these homes and, at the same time, incorporate into the design the wishes of young people who either have experienced living in a children’s home, or are currently in residential care and will be moving into one of the new homes.

"Children looked after by the County Council had a crucial role in the design of the new, residential care homes.

"While the architecture and technical aspects of construction are important considerations, we were clear that, first and foremost, we wanted these houses to be a real home for the children we’re caring for who, for varying and complex reasons, are unable to remain at home with their own families."