WORK on a major housing development on the edge of Eastleigh is now underway.

The construction of 560 homes on a site south of Chestnut Avenue and west of Stoneham Lane has now started.

A large open space, two children’s play areas and a number of smaller open spaces are also set to be created at the site.

Cllr Maureen Sollitt, Mayor of Eastleigh, got the work underway earlier this month.

She said: “I’m delighted to officially get this new exciting development of Stoneham Park community underway.

“It will provide enhanced facilities for all Eastleigh residents and provide much needed affordable housing, allowing local people to be able to have a home of their own.”

Cllr Sollitt also stressed the development will help reduce the council’s housing waiting list and assist in meeting the shortfall in housing across the borough.

The area will see a mix one, two, three and four-bedroom homes with nearly 200 of them being classed as affordable homes.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, the plans put forward by Highwood Group were approved in May 2017 and are part of a major scheme which will see a total of 1,100 homes being built at the site.

As part of the proposal the area will also have a new children’s pre-school nursery, community buildings, a care home, retail and office buildings, car parking and a sports hub.

As previously reported, a new primary school is also set to be built at Chestnut Avenue. The plans are still at an early stage and the school will be funded by the borough council which will get the money back from the developers later in the process.

Meanwhile, the first homes at the site are expected to be completed and occupied by next year.