ALMOST £4 million of Government money earmarked for affordable housing is heading towards the Stratford District Council area - and villages in the south west of the district could benefit.

A £3.8 million grant from the Housing Corporation, the national body responsible for housing strategy, will be used on various schemes throughout the district council area.

The council, which sold off its housing stock in 1996, will be working closely with five local housing associations which will build the new homes.

One village which may benefit is Welford, where it is anticipated 17 affordable homes will be built by South Warwickshire Housing Association.

However, a recent proposal for the village was refused planning permission and the scheme will have to be revised and a new planning application lodged.

The plan was rejected on the grounds that the number of units proposed was too great for the size of the village, confirmed housing association spokesman Simon Brader.

There are no immediate plans to submit an amended application.

There is also a proposal to build a further eight new homes in Southam Road, Priors Marston, and an application for planning permission has yet to be lodged. The final decision will remain with the district council.

District council spokesman Mark Lepkowski confirmed there were no schemes planned for Bidford, although the parish council is keen to see further development of affordable housing in the village.

The district council is understood to be of the view that new developments in the village were absorbing much of the land required for new homes and that these already incorporated a number of affordable homes.

But parish clerk Elizabeth Uggerlose responded: "The parish council does not agree with this, the Housing Needs Survey carried out in Bidford had taken into account the developments already planned and still identified a need for affordable housing not just in Bidford village but also in Broom and Marlcliff."