WORK has started on building 30 new homes in a village.

Hillcrest Homes bought land from Stonyhurst College for its new housing development, known as The Warren, in Hurst Green.

It will offer two bedroom bungalows, two bedroom semi-detached homes, two and three bedroom terraced homes and four and five bedroom luxury family homes.

The Warren, which sits on a 5.7-acre south-facing hillside, will overlook a new ‘village green’ where a 200-year-old ash tree is prominently featured.

Contractors CPUK will be on site for 82 weeks with the homes ready to purchase in the autumn and due for completion next summer.

Hillcrest director James Payne said: “We’re very aware of the importance our development will have on the character of the village and have been committed right from the very start to delivering a high quality scheme.

“For The Warren, we wanted to create a feeling of maturity and permanence, and for the development to look like it had grown organically over time.”

Villagers and people interested in the homes have been invited to attend an information day, where they can view plans, artist’s impressions of the different house designs and watch an animated fly-thru.

Peter Butterfield, vice-chairman of Aighton, Bailey and Chaigley Parish Council, said people in the village had been asking when the development was going to start since it was granted planning permission five years ago.

He said: “One or two people in the village have expressed to me and friends they would be interested in moving into the homes depending on the size and costs.”

Hillcrest sales manager, Simone Milner, said: “We want to chat to people about the specification provided in each home. We’re working with the new Stuart Frazer showroom in Read to provide fantastic kitchens by SieMatic and with leading designers to create luxurious bathrooms and en suites.”

The information day is at the Shireburn Arms in Hurst Green from 10am until 4pm on Sunday May 20.