Two outdated housing schemes in West Oxfordshire are set to be replaced by affordable social rent homes.

Cottsway Housing Association, which owns the properties in Chipping Norton and Woodstock, will tear down and rebuild the structures to provide an additional 49 one, two and three-bed homes.

The constructions, including 12 at Hailey Avenue, Chipping Norton and 37 at Ryegrass, Woodstock, which were initially built in the 1950s to 1960s.

Demolition is due to start at Hailey Road in April and at Ryegrass in June after securing planning permission early in 2024.

Colin Bloodworth, director of development and partnerships at Cottsway, said: "We are committed to providing homes to a decent, high standard and we are looking forward to work starting at both of these locations.

“We will be regenerating these outdated buildings into new, modern homes with eco-friendly features, including solar panels, air-source heating and electrical vehicle charging points.

“We’re grateful to Homes England for supporting this work with a grant of nearly £5.4m and we’re proud that all of the homes will be available for social rent, helping to meet local demand in two areas where rental prices are high.”

Work at the Chipping Norton site will be done by E G Carter & Co Ltd while the Woodstock site will be handled by Feltham Construction Ltd.

Mathew Vye, associate director at E G Carter & Co Ltd, said: “We hope to have completed the demolition onsite by June 2024 and construction of the 12 new homes – a mix of flats, maisonettes and houses - by Summer 2025.”

Simon Lampard, construction director at Feltham Construction Ltd, said: “We hope to be on site in June and to have completed the build by the end of next year.”