The first homes at a new Hampshire housing development have been completed. 

Bloor Homes is building 120 homes on the former site of Fareham College and the first residents have just moved in.

Construction work began on the Laurel Grove development off Bishopsfield Road in June.

The 3.25 hectare site, which used to be the southern part of the college campus, was sold to Bloor Homes by the college when it became surplus to requirements, with the receipts funding major redevelopment elsewhere on the campus.

When completed, the development will have 90 homes for private sale, ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses, with another 30 being provided as affordable housing.

Regional sales director at Bloor Homes Southern Kim Willcock said: “Construction work is progressing well at Laurel Grove and we are delighted to be welcoming the first residents into their homes for Christmas.

“The development will breathe new life into a previously derelict site and provide much-needed homes for the area, which has had a lack of new housing in recent years.

“Laurel Grove will cater for a wide range of people, and is already proving popular, particularly first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder.

“There has been lots of interest in the development, and six plots have already been reserved just a few weeks after our sales office and show home opened at the site.”

As part of a Section 106 planning agreement for the development, Bloor Homes is providing funding of £44,480 for the maintenance of an equipped play area and a further £20,237 for improvements to areas of public open space close to the development.