One of west Suffolk’s newest affordable homes developments has been officially opened.

Six years ago, a local housing needs survey found that some residents in Barton Mills were living in inadequate accommodation, while others were simply having to move away due to a lack of affordable housing in the village.

Forest Heath District Council and its partner St Edmundsbury Borough Council are working toward plans to explore building and buying affordable homes, as well as continuing to work with registered providers such as Hastoe Housing.

On Friday, Forest Heath leader James Waters and Rona Burt, cabinet member for housing, officially opened the latest scheme in Church Lane, Barton Mills.

Ms Burt, said: “Without the housing to meet people’s needs, firms cannot expand and attract new staff and the economy stagnates.

“That is why housing schemes such as this are so important to us all.”