A PILOT project to provide affordable homes using both private and public land has been completed.

Winchester City Council, in partnership with Mapledean Developments and Radian, has now let eight new rented homes at The Gardens, Bishop’s Waltham.

It comprises two flats and seven houses ranging in size from two to four bedrooms.

The site had been occupied by a pair of semi-detached properties, one owned by the council and the other by a private owner.

Local developers, Mapledean, agreed to undertake the scheme as a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme with the council and Radian, the Eastleigh-based provider of affordable homes.

Mapledean director, Nigel Freemantle supports this collaborative approach, saying: “We have always believed that the best way to provide more homes for the community, whether for social or private occupation, is by a transparent collaboration between the stakeholders.

“The finished scheme has been a success on many levels with the development of a brownfield site, the creation of additional affordable homes for Bishops Waltham, and the completion of another Mapledean project that our company is rightly proud of.”

The development attracted a grant award of £760,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), along with further investment from Radian and the city council.

The HCA will also be providing a £1.61m grant for another scheme at Willis Waye, Kings Worthy.