Construction has started on a £77m housing scheme that will deliver 350 new affordable rented homes in west Wiltshire.

Persimmon Homes, its sister company Westbury Partnerships, Wiltshire Council, Aster Communities and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) all joined forces in Westbury for the official ceremony to mark the launch of construction.

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract got the green light from the Government at the end of last year. The project will deliver a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses, flats and bungalows. The innovative scheme sees land provided by Wiltshire Council and Persimmon Homes. Westbury Partnerships, working with Aster Communities, will build the new homes.

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Initial phases will be built in Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Melksham and Hilperton, with the first properties ready to move into during summer 2012. Plans to build a further 100 homes are also progressing.

The housing PFI allows local authorities to work with private sector partners to build, improve and manage housing. It is administered in England by the HCA.

Nigel Greenaway, south division chief executive, Persimmon Homes and Westbury Partnerships, said: "This joint venture will deliver more homes into the communities where they are most needed. The contract is an excellent example of cooperative working between the public and private sector and we look forward to welcoming the first new residents in the summer."

(CD/DW)