Homes bought in council housing push

The homes are part of the new Buttercup Fields development near Belper Lane and will be released in phases over the next six months

Amber Valley Borough Council has purchased 21 new affordable homes to increase the availability of council housing.

It forms part of a £9m drive to bring back council-owned housing to the area, after the last of the previous stock was sold off to social housing firms more than 20 years ago.

The number of people waiting for council or social housing in Amber Valley currently sits at about 2,070 households.

The new homes will be released in three phases over the next six months and take the authority's council housing portfolio to a total of 28 homes.

They are part of the Buttercup Fields development, which is being built by Wheeldon Homes in Belper.

The council released its first four council homes in Kirk Langley in March. Three more properties in the area will become available in December.

Councillor Chris Emmas-Williams, the leader of Amber Valley Borough Council, said: "I'm determined to deliver on this as quickly as possible.

"We as a council see it as key to try and get some homes for younger people so they can remain in the towns and villages where they grew up.

"We understand we have a long way to go but every one that we can get and get back into affordable home ownership for the residents of Amber Valley, the better."

The council hopes the homes will also generate income for the council in the long term.

All properties will have solar panels, which the authority hopes will help reduce tenants' energy consumption and bills.