NEW affordable houses are to be built on Green Belt land in Chalfont St Giles to cope with the demand for housing.

Planning permission for 28 new properties to be built on Green Belt land was granted by Chiltern District Council because of a proven need for new housing in the village.

A legal agreement has ensured all the properties will remain affordable, with local people having first priority.

The properties, which are a mixture of flats and houses, will be built in Bowstridge Lane.

They are to built by the Rural Housing Trust, which is the country's leading provider of affordable housing.

The development is the eighth the Rural Housing Trust has planned for Buckinghamshire, with building work on a site at Lane End due to start shortly.

The Trust also hope to submit plans for similar schemes in Ellesborough and Amersham soon.