COUNCILLORS and people from local businesses were invited to a conference to hear what is planned for the next five years by Williton-based housing association.

And they heard at the annual event about the organisation’s plans to start a programme of building new homes again.

Magna director Tony Murray said: “Our purpose is to help people meet their housing needs. We pride ourselves on providing good quality housing which is well-maintained but we stopped our building programme a few years ago.

“Since then, the arrangements regarding government grant have changed and we feel that it is our duty to start building quality homes for social housing as other organisations may not now be in such a strong position to do so.”

Magna plans to build 600 homes in the next five years, 300 of which will be for social housing and the remainder for shared ownership.

Pictured at the conference are Magna Housing director Tony Murray (left) and district councillor Keith Turner.