A £4.2 million contract has been awarded to deliver a new affordable housing development in Bridgwater for Yarlington Housing group.

The contract for the new homes has gone to national building contractor Speller Metcalfe, and will be built on a disused plot of land off Tynte Road in Bridgwater, adjacent to Bridgwater College Academy.

The mixed tenure 37-home affordable development will comprise apartments for rent and houses for both rent and shared ownership.

The properties will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom flats.

Yarlington’s executive director of growth and development, Stephen Lodge, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Speller Metcalfe as the main contractor on this much needed development.

“With house prices in Sedgemoor more than nine times the average salary, these 37 homes will provide affordable rent and shared ownership options to local people.

“The development will also support Yarlington’s commitment to building 1,500 new homes in the south west as part of our Next-Gen corporate strategy.”

Pre-construction manager for Speller Metcalfe’s living division, Rob Ackerman, said: “We are excited to start work with new client Yarlington Housing Group on this fantastic, affordable development in Bridgwater.

“Speller Metcalfe’s living division has a wealth of experience in the delivery of high-quality affordable homes in areas where they are most needed.

“As house prices and costs of living continue to rise, it is important that we see more schemes like this offer an affordable housing choice to local communities and help reduce the housing shortfall in the South West.”

Speller Metcalfe will start on site in spring 2019 and the new homes are expected to be completed in August 2020.