WORK is expected to start on building 153 homes on a green belt site in Stanford-le-Hope in the autumn.

The date has been set by modular housing firm ilke Homes which plans to offer the homes on the 15-acre site off Victoria Road for shared ownership or affordable rent.

Full planning permission has been granted for the build but ilke Homes, which plans to manufacture the buildings at its factory in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, hopes to secure minor amendments to the approved reserved matters.

Once groundworks are completed it is planned to start transporting the energy-efficient, homes, which will comprise 138 houses and 15 apartments, to the site in spring 2022.

Executive director of development at ilke Homes Tom Heathcote says: "This scheme will demonstrate that offsite manufacturing is capable of delivering beautiful places thanks to flexible designs that can react to different streetscapes and local character.

"What's more, due to our accredited method of delivery, we will be able to significantly reduce the carbon emissions produced during the construction programme by reducing time spent on site and vehicular movements in the surrounding community."