A BUILDING project costing more than £1 million has been launched in Redditch to curb the shortage of homes for the elderly.

Redditch Council has injected £300,000 into the scheme, which has been set up by Redditch Co-operative Homes.

The move comes after the council carried out a housing survey which highlighted a need for more accommodation for the elderly.

And the planning application to create 17 two-bedroom bungalows for the over 60s in Kingsley Avenue in Lakeside was submitted to Redditch Council last week.

The council is in the process of selling the 1.3 acres in Lakeside to Redditch Co-operative Homes to begin work in January, subject to planning permission.

Chairman of Redditch Co-operative Homes, Ken Somner, said: "By submitting this planning application we hope not only to provide high quality, affordable homes for the elderly in Redditch, but also free up much-needed council accommodation for families in housing need."

The project will be the fifth housing scheme undertaken by Redditch Co-operative Homes in the town.

And the people who are going to live in the new bungalows have already got together and had input into the design of their homes and will eventually manage the development.

Work on the bungalows is expected to be completed by September next year.