Council-developed private homes, which are expected to be among the most prestigious properties being built in Mansfield, are available to buy.

The 23 executive four and five-bedroom detached houses are being developed by Mansfield District Council’s property development company, Mansfield Homes Ltd.

The venture was set up as an arm’s-length private company to build homes on surplus council land and make money to help support services.

In the first scheme — Wildflower Rise, on old nursery land owned by the council near Carr Bank Park — the luxury properties, which range in price from £415,000 to £540,000, are expected to raise £900,000 for the council.

The decision to build for the executive end of the market was based on a need to improve the supply of aspirational housing, and to maximise income generated by development.

The council also has plans to build new social housing for rent.

Over the next five years, more than 100 new council homes will be constructed in the district.

That comes after 218 council homes were built in the district between 2011 and 2018.

Mayor Kate Allsop said: “We know there is a market for this kind of housing in the town and it is part of the council’s wider strategy to make this district more ambitious in its aspirations and a place where people are proud to live.

“It is also part of the council’s innovative approach to generate new streams of income to pay for services at a time when our central Government funding is shrinking.”

Mansfield Homes Ltd was set up in 2014 with the aim of building about 220 two to five-bedroom homes to sell on the open market to help meet housing demands in the district identified in the draft Local Plan. The plan said 1,767 new homes were needed by 2033 in addition to the 5,733 dwellings already approve.

Work on the Wildflower Rise homes is scheduled to be completed in September. The houses are being marketed by Burchell Edwards estate agents, email [email protected] or call 01623 627727.