NINETEEN homes to rent have been built.

Cottsway Housing Association has opened the homes in Chipping Norton after a one-year redevelopment project with the launch taking place last week.

The houses and flats have been built at Vernon Court on Burford Road in the town.

Nikkel Humphreys, a new tenant who has been in her new home for six weeks now said: "After my father passed away last year, this new home really changed my life.

"The view is incredible and after a stressful day, I can forget about my worries and focus on that."

Chief executive of Cottsway Housing Association, Vivian Rosser said: "Vernon Court is an important addition to housing provision in the town.

"The cost of renting privately and buying a home has become much less affordable in West Oxfordshire and beyond, so this year Cottsway is starting to develop 200 new homes for affordable rent."

Housing association tenants, staff and board members on Friday joined together to launch the houses, built by developers E G Carter & Co Ltd and part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Phillip Barnes regional manager at E G Carter & Co Ltd said: "We are proud to have delivered the Vernon Court project on behalf of Cottsway ahead of target.

"We are also glad to see how thrilled the new residents are with their new homes. It is the icing on the cake."

Over the past few weeks tenants have moved into the 14 brand new one and two bedroom flats and five, two and three bedroom houses.

Over the next 18 months Cottsway also plan to build over 100 new shared ownership homes across the Cotswolds.