An affordable housing scheme for Eynsham, costing £4m and providing 40 new homes, has been given planning permission.

Work will start on the development, on land off Merton Close, next spring, with the first phase set for completion and ready for tenants to move in by the winter, Cottsway Housing Association’s chief executive David Waters said: “This is a large development for Cottsway and will be beneficial to local people needing homes, and to the village itself.”

It has attracted a 40 per cent Government grant, with the rest of the money coming from the association. Some of the homes will be for rent, with others available on a part-rent/part-buy basis.