COUNCIL housing plans in Winchester were praised and approved.

In a heated council meeting there was a brief respite after heated confrontations between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

Winchester City Council’s housing team was roundly praised by councillors of both parties.

The cabinet housing revenue account strategy aims to improve the homes of tenants through home repairs,improving communal areas and building new council homes.

The housing team is the responsibility of new council leader Caroline Horrill.

Praising the plans was leader of the Liberal Democrats in Winchester Lucille Thompson.

Cllr Thompson said: "At last a project that we can support, overall we recognise it has been incredibly challenging times for our housing department and in spite of everything that has been thrown at them they continue to rise to the challenge."

While Jamie Scott, described the housing team at Winchester City Council as "superb".

Conservative councillor Eileen Berry said: "I have to say the housing team with Caroline has done incredibly well the officers have come in with her and her enthusiasm has been incredible."

It comes days after Winchester City Council become the first council in Hampshire and only the fifth in England to receive the Government’s prestigious ‘Gold standard’ award in recognition of its work in preventing and tackling all forms of homelessness.

The new builds that the city council is aiming to build include homes at Hillier Way, the Chesil Extra care scheme, The Valley in Stanmore, Victoria House and a number of other ones.

Overall the city council is aiming to spend nearly £64m on new homes by 2022.