FAMILIES are moving into new homes in time for Christmas as a major council home build programme nears completion.

Southview Park is a scheme to provide 50 affordable and shared ownership properties in Trowbridge.

The scheme is due to complete early summer in 2020 providing much needed housing in the area.

Cllr Richard Clewer, cabinet member for housing, went along to see the completion of the latest stage with six one-bed flats and four three-bed houses ready for people to move into before Christmas.

He met with families who have moved in just in time for the festive period.

Cllr Clewer said: “I am so pleased more people are able to move into these new houses and make them their home in time for Christmas.

“There are real benefits to having a safe, secure and affordable home. In the coming years we have committed to a major programme of works to provide more council homes to ensure more people can call a house a home and have the opportunity to remain in their communities.”

Beata Perry and her son Michal aged 18 and Leon aged 15 moved into their new home in Southview recently.

She said: “It was a real emotional moment when I walked into my home for the first time and I was extremely happy when I was given the keys. The boys are very happy with their new home and have helped to sort everything out.”

The first phase of the housing development recently won a regional award recognising the homes are built to a high quality and have sustainable features.

The award also recognised the excellence in design and construction

The designs and build quality are the same as the award-winning houses on stage one which were completed in November 2018.

These achieved the best social or affordable new housing development at the LABC Regional Building Excellence Awards for the West of England region.

The council worked on the £5m housing project at Southview Park with Stepnell Construction.

Southview was part of the wider build programme to provide 1,000 more council homes over the next 10 years in Wiltshire including housing at social rent levels.