Work has begun on an exciting scheme to build 27 new homes in the heart of Ormskirk.

West Lancashire Borough Council has embarked on the project which will see the authority build houses specifically to be sold for the first time.

The homes are being built in Ormskirk close to the Council's Derby Street offices on the site formerly occupied by Westec House, a Council office base which was demolished in 2014.

18 houses will be built to be sold on the open market. These will comprise of:

· Three two-bedroom terraced houses

· Eight two-bedroom semi-detached houses

· Six three-bedroom semi-detached houses

· One three-bedroom detached house

Another two-bedroom terraced house will be available for shared ownership. The remaining eight homes will be one-bedroom apartments to be retained by the Council and rented on an affordable rent basis. These eight Council properties will be 30% funded from money held by the Council under Government rules to replace Council housing lost through right to buy sales.

Construction firm Cruden are building the homes on behalf of the Council, and the builders are currently laying the foundations on the site. Arcus Consulting are the architects for the project.

Councillor Jenny Forshaw, portfolio holder for Housing and Landlord Services, said: "I am delighted work has started on site as this is a really exciting project for the Council that will realise the potential for this site with the building of new homes.

"As well as providing 27 new homes, the scheme will have an extra benefit of bringing in much needed funds for the Council. Like many other authorities across the country, we are facing difficult financial challenges, and also have to become self-financing by 2020. The funds raised from the sale of homes will go towards supporting the Council's capital programme and helping to meet our priorities."

Pictured are: James Donafee, Quantity Surveyor, Cruden Construction Ltd; Colin McGee, Site Manager, Cruden Construction Ltd; Clive Sellers, Managing Partner, Arcus Consulting LLP; Peter Blake, Contracts Manager, Cruden Construction Ltd; Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey, West Lancashire Borough Council Director of Housing and Inclusion Services and Councillor Jenny Forshaw, West Lancashire Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services.