THE first new homes in a £2.3m scheme have been handed over to housing association Sanctuary.

Three of the 19 new homes under construction at Arncott Fields, off Murcott Road, Arncott, near Bicester, are now complete. The rest are set to be finished by next summer.

Ten of the homes, built by Bloor Homes, will be rented out and the other nine sold on a shared ownership basis.

The scheme also had a £336,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Jonathan Mullins, Sanctuary’s head of development for the Midlands, said: “We are working closely with Cherwell District Council and Bloor Homes to develop affordable housing in this area and we were delighted to welcome councillors to Arncott Fields for the completion of the first units.

“We are as committed as they are to providing high-quality new homes in this part of North Oxfordshire.

“The site will be transformed over the next few months to create a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes in a community that people will be proud to be part of.”

Debbie Pickford, lead member for housing at the council, said: “I’m delighted to see a further and much needed contribution to our affordable housing for Cherwell.”