Pictured: Matt Colloby, group business development manager, William Davis Ltd; Christine Parker, development project team, Futures Housing Group and Julie Heithus, head of development, Futures Housing Group.

Loughborough-based contractor and developer, William Davis Ltd has commenced work on a £2m housing scheme to provide 16 affordable homes in Amber Valley, Derbyshire.

In partnership with Futures Housing Group, William Davis is constructing 16 two and three-bedroom family homes across two former car park sites at Mount Street, Heanor and Kirk Close, Ripley.

Built to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) Level 3, the new homes will be energy efficient and include features such as rain water harvesting and gas savers.

Matt Colloby, group business development manager at William Davis, said: "The new homes will feature highly efficient renewable energy technologies and will not only meet today's sustainability requirements but also prove that incorporating 'green solutions' need not impinge on modern family living."

Julie Heithus, head of development at Futures Housing Group, added: "There is a continued need for affordable housing across Amber Valley, particularly for high-quality family housing. Our new build programme is helping to meet this need as we seek to secure funding and make best use of our own resources to expand the supply of homes.

"These new homes will incorporate high levels of insulation and energy saving measures to keep running costs as low as possible. This supports our commitment to reducing carbon as well as making the homes more affordable for the tenants who will live there."

The houses will be available for affordable rent through Amber Valley Housing, which is a part of Futures Housing Group. With more than £900,000 of grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, the scheme is due for completion in Winter 2011.