A HOUSING developer has begun work on a 47-home estate at its new Temple Gate development in Marcham.

The new Pye Homes site will feature a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses.

As part of its commitment to create new habitats and enhance the site’s existing biodiversity, Pye Homes is planting a range of native tree species and hedgerows, creating areas of wildflowers and installing bat and bird boxes, insect houses and underground chambers for reptiles and amphibians.

Pye Homes’ managing director Graham Flint said: “We’re delighted to be able to begin construction on this new community of houses at Temple Gate.”

Oxford Mail: Pye Homes MD Graham Flint.

He added: “As with all our developments, we are working with a wide range of local businesses and continuing our ongoing 50-year partnership with Oxford-based Minoli Tiles.

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“This not only means the homes we build reflect the surrounding communities, it also allows us to ensure the development boosts the local economy and helps to support existing jobs, as well as create new ones.

“To help address the ongoing lack of affordable properties in Oxfordshire, the site will include a number of shared ownership properties and will also feature Help to Buy options for first-time homeowners.”

The name Temple Gate was inspired by the discovery of a 1,600-year-old Romano-British temple at nearby Trendles Field. It is anticipated the first homes will go on sale early next year.

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