Work is well underway on a development of 47 much-needed affordable homes on former grazing land in a Suffolk village.

The scheme at Martlesham was originally to have featured only half as much social housing with the remainder being sold on the open market.

But Hastoe Housing Association is now developing the eight-acre field at the end of Black Tiles Lane completely with affordable housing.

The scheme – given the go-ahead by East Suffolk Council back in 2016 – is now well underway with the estate roads being built and is expected to be completed early next year.

The project will feature 24 social rent and 23 shared ownership houses and bungalows, along with open space and a car park for the next door Martlesham Primary Academy.

The homes will include air source heat pumps, double glazing, electric car charging points, LED lighting and extra insulation to help cut carbon emissions.

Rose Builders are the contractors for the development, one of the largest so far carried out by Hastoe.

Ulrike Maccariello, development director at Hastoe Housing Association, said: “We are pleased to be working with Rose as principal contractor to deliver the scheme at Martlesham.

“Hastoe took the decision to convert a market-led scheme into much-needed affordable housing for local people within east Suffolk. We are proud to deliver this scheme to Hastoe’s New Build Standard, that substantially exceeds Building Regulation Standard."

Justyn French, Rose’s director of commercial housing, said the homes “will make a significant contribution to the local housing need”.