GRAYSHOTT and District Housing Association (G&DHA) is celebrating the start of its largest affordable housing scheme ever.

After years of planning, building work has now started at Crossways Road in the centre of the village.

The site, owned by the group, will be home to 14 one-bed and two-bed flats with parking and communal gardens.

The flats will be available for rent to people who have a village connection, either through living or working locally, and are on a low income.

The new residential development has been designed to fit in with the nearby Grayshott Conservation Area.

Costing more than £2 million, this project marks the largest investment made in the village for the community for some time.

G&DHA is a small charity run by volunteers with skills linked to housing management, supported by a part-time administrator.

Association chairman Teresa Jamieson said: “We are so pleased to be starting building after all the planning and local consultations.

“The first flats should be completed in autumn 2020.

“Some of these flats will be for re-housing some of our existing tenants.

“However, after those moves have been made, we will be offering the remaining flats to people in housing need on our waiting list.”

Mrs Jamieson and the association’s development chairman, Glenn Blake, were joined by other volunteer board members, the Feltham Construction manager and Chris Jones from Grayshott Parish Council at the breaking ground ceremony to cut the first turf at the site in Crossways Road.

Four existing flats and two semi-detached houses were demolished to provide more affordable housing for the village.

* To join the waiting list, complete an application form – to obtain one, email [email protected]