MUCH-NEEDED affordable homes are set to be built close to Basingstok e town centre , thanks to tw o bodies combining their land.

Basingstok e and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) and Sovereign Housing Association have combined their land, investment and expertise to ensure that 12 new homes will be built on land at the junction with Lower Brook Street and May Street.

Housing association Sovereign owns the garage site at the corner of the tw o streets and it has been agreed the council-owned land surrounding the site will be transferred to Sovereign to mak e the build possible .

The project has no w been give n the green light after receiving planning permission.

The site will be transformed into eight two-bedroom homes and four one-bedroom flats , which will be a mix of affordable rented and shared ownership properties.

Deputy leader of the borough council, Cllr Terri Reid said: “Working in partnership with Sovereign we have been able to ensure that we are making the best possible use of the land that we ow n for the benefit of local people . There is a real need for these affordable homes, which will provide accommodation for single people, couples and small families.

“We will continue to work in partnership and to look at innovative ways in which we can provide more homes , and in particular more affordable housing, within the borough.”

As part of the development there will be off-road parking for residents and visitor spaces, and the properties will have rear gardens and small front garden areas.

BDBC has pledged to help create more affordable housing in the borough and believes this project is an example of the kind of scheme which can transfor m underused areas into new and affordable homes.

Roger Keeling, from Sovereign, said: “Working in partnership with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council over the provision of this land has created a great opportunity.”