UNDERFLOOR heating and roof mounted solar cells are among hi-tech features of the first council homes to be built in Oxford in 20 years.

Builders at the Lambourn Road development in Rose Hill are making quick work of the construction of 38 new homes.

The first houses will be completed in August, and Oxford City Council bosses are confident the first residents will get their keys in September, just six months after work began on the £5.8m project.

The development, which replaces post-war ‘Orlit’ homes, includes eight one-bedroom properties, 12 two-beds, 16 three-beds and two five-bed family homes.

With more than 5,000 people on the housing waiting list in Oxford, and just 650 properties becoming available each year, they cannot be ready soon enough.

Graham Stratford, the council’s head of housing, said the new accommodation was a huge boost.

He said: “New build is critical in ensuring housing availability – and this is the first chance we have had to build ourselves as a council for 20 years.

Mr Stratford said the two five-bed properties would help meet demand for larger houses in the city.

He said: “We have very few properties over four bedroom in our stock and there is a demand on the waiting list.

“These two homes will help us assist two of those cases and they will be those with the greatest need.”

The new homes feature a host of eco-friendly features including solar panels, state-of-the-art heating systems and high levels of insulation.

The development also meets the Lifetime Homes standard, which allows easy improvements to be made if people’s needs change through age or a disability.

Bruce Thompson, contracts operation manager, said he was delighted with the progress that had been made and said the first properties to be finished would be two-bed chalet bungalows.

The construction teams have used timber frames, which means building work is moving twice as rapidly as projects using more traditional methods.

The frame provides a weather-tight shell for electricians and plumbers to work within from an early stage, but the final buildings will be made of brick.

Mr Thompson said a high standard of environment features had been included in the specifications and could help residents save up to two thirds from heating bills.

He added: “We have flats for young families, houses for growing families and houses for older people.

“There will be a mix of people here which is great for the community.”

All the properties will have energy efficient under floor heating.

Many are being fitted with solar photovoltaic cells on the roofs to generate electricity.

Any power the cells generate surplus to tenants’ needs will be sold to the National Grid.

Water is heated using state-of-the art air-source heat pumps that offer savings of up to 60 per cent on fuel bills.

All of the properties are being built to the Government’s Sustainability Code 4m, which is above the minimum environmental standard for new builds.

All homes also meet the Lifetime Homes standard with high levels of accessibility and adaptation options, such as space for through-floor lifts built into the design. This will allow tenants to remain in their home as their needs change.