WORCESTER MP Mike Foster donned hard hat and safety boots to inspect a £9 million housing development in the city.

The houses, currently being built by Nexus Housing in the Brickfields area of Worcester, will be a mix of 63 affordable properties, 38 of which will be for rent and 25 for shared ownership.

The development is being undertaken by West Mercia Housing Group in partnership with Kier Partnership Homes.

"There are 3,000 local families on the housing waiting list in Worcester," Mr Foster said.

"We simply need to build more new homes for local people to enable them to stay in and around the city. This development is a very welcome addition to the affordable housing stock in the city."

The estate, off Brickfields Road, has been deisgned with the environment in mind. Some will have enhanced eco features such as ground source heat pumps, solar panels and heat recovery systems.

"This particular development shows the way things will be in the future," said Mr Foster, "with homes built with climate change in mind. Efficient use of energy, use of new technology with products designed to reduce carbon emissions and even sourcing local labour help build environmentally-friendly homes."

The Brickfields development is due to be completed by October.