MORE affordable houses are set to come to the county by 2020 after approval of a £42.5 million scheme.

Wiltshire Council will work with local communities to create, own and run 226 affordable homes for families and elderly residents across the county.

Working with parish and town councils will be key to the plans and Wiltshire Council officers have met representatives to establish which communities would benefit from homes for older people or young families.

Jonathon Seed, the cabinet member for housing, said: “Wiltshire Council is committed to providing new affordable homes.

“And this is an excellent way to utilise unused council-owned land to provide a much needed housing solution in this county.

“We will be particularly looking to provide affordable homes for our older residents in rural communities so they can continue to enjoy and be part of their own local communities.”

As well as creating new homes, the plan will also see the council continuing to invest in remodelling and refurbishing existing council homes.

And they will expand their housing stock to ensure local people can continue to live in their communities.

More than £42 million, which has largely come from the Housing Revenue Account, will be used to help fund the scheme during the next five years.

This is money which has been accrued from rents from existing council housing stock.

Maggie Rae, the corporate director, said: “New affordable housing will help to meet the housing needs in Wiltshire, particularly those of older people.

“It will help them continue to live independently in the community and improve their quality of life.”