A COUNCIL has been given a £1.35m grant to boost affordable homes.

The Homes and Communities Agency has approved the cash to help fund 24 energy-efficient homes — 17 for social rent and seven for shared ownership.

Properties, including one bungalow, and a range of two, three and four- bedroom houses, will be built at land south of Milton Road, Bloxham.

Michael Gibbard, Cherwell District Council’s executive member for planning and housing, said: “The provision of affordable housing within Cherwell is of paramount importance to us, we are therefore delighted by this excellent news.

“As well as supporting local residents in need of affordable rents, the scheme will also help future home-buyers to get their foot onto the property ladder through shared ownership which allows part-rent and part-buying of properties.”

Ken Glendinning, head of area at the HCA, said: “This is excellent news for Cherwell district and we will continue to support our partners in providing new and affordable homes for the community.”

The rented properties, built in partnership with registered social landlords Bromford Group, will be completed by 2012, the shared ownership ones by 2013.

The grant came from the National Affordable Housing Programme 2008-11.