REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith dropped in to welcome tenants to a new housing venture, writes Julian Seva.

Redditch Co-operative Homes has built 17 two-bedroom bungalows named Breedon Gardens, off Kinglsey Avenue, Lakeside.

The organisation has built 133 properties in the town since 1999, the latest taking just 18 months to build and costing £850,000.

Unusually, tenants are chosen before the homes are built. They all play a part in the design process and get to know each other at the same time.

Mr Taylor said the new bungalows would also free up other council homes and help tackle the housing waiting list.

Most of the residents moved in over the Christmas period and the development brings to an end the first cycle of developments by the co-operative in Redditch.

The co-operative's work has in the past been cited by the Government as the way it wants to see the provision of social housing go in the future.

When Ms Smith dropped in to see the finished project she handed the keys over to new tenant Christopher McKeon, 81.