New houses for the Cotswolds

The houses will be built in an area of great beauty

More than 200 new "affordable" houses are due to be built in the Cotswolds in the next year.

Up to 700 houses have already been built since the Cotswold Housing Partnership, a collection of local government, housing associations and businesses, was set up five years ago,

It was created to address the housing problem for local residents in the area, where an average two-bedroom house has tripled in value to £230,000 over the last six years.

Now, a further 189 "affordable" properties to rent, and 25 to buy, are in the pipeline.

'Natural beauty'

Sandra Price, chairman of the community committee at Cotswold District Council, told BBC News Online affordable houses to buy are independently priced by accredited valuers, with local people able to buy a 70% stake.

Weekly rent for an average two-bed semi-detached affordable house, Mrs Price said, would currently be between £50 and £60.

"The housing problem here is exacerbated by high house prices and restrictive local planning. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty," she said.

From the existing affordable properties, 642 are to rent and 56 to buy.