FESTIVAL Housing has officially marked the completion of a £1 million development in a village near Pershore.

The eight new homes, which have been built on land off Field Barn Lane, Cropthorne, were completed in June after work started last October.

A mixture of two and threebedroom houses and bungalows have been let under the ‘affordable rent’ scheme.

Festival staff were joined at the event by colleagues from Wychavon including Councillor Judy Pearce and Coun Tom McDonald, along with many of the residents of the newly named Orchard Row.

Guy Weston, Festival’s chief executive, said: “I am delighted to see these high quality new homes completed in this beautiful rural setting. They will provide highly energy-efficient homes for residents who will be paying an affordable rent.”

Coun McDonald said he was pleased with the end result. “We all recognise the demand for affordable homes,” he said.

“This can only happen by people working together.

“The most important factor is the local community which, in this case, has had a chance to have their say on the development from the early stages and have had an input into the design.”