MORE affordable homes are to be built in the Winchester district following a multi-million-pound windfall for housing chiefs.

The district will benefit from about £2.4m which has been made available for affordable homes in villages. The funding should provide 40 homes over the next two years.

Last year, the average house price across the Winchester district was more than £310,000, resulting in many people being unable to afford their own homes.

The homes will be provided across the district, selected in consultation with communities, parish councils and planners.

The money is available from the Housing Corpora-tion's £7m grant for the county. The funding has been awarded to Hyde Housing Association, selected by the Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing (HARAH) to build the homes.