A MAJOR housing development on a derelict industrial site in Worcester is to be used as a pilot project for environmentally friendly homes, it has emerged.

Nexus housing, which is behind a scheme to build 103 homes in Brickfields Road, Brickfields, wants to make sure the development is as green as possible.

Rainwater will be recycled and used to flush the toilets, while solar panels will be added to heat water and power the lights.

If the homes prove to be popular, the group will build more of them elsewhere. The features will appear in some of the homes, but not all of them.

As the Worcester News reported in October, the go-ahead has been given for homes of various sizes on the site of the former Wescol factory.

The council decided to approve a series of one-bedroom flats, and two, three and four-bedroom houses.

Nexus director Liz Staveley said: "We are delighted councillors are backing the scheme, which is going to create more than 100 homes to tackle a housing shortfall in the area.

"A housing scheme is directly taking a local lead. Working with the city Council, we will be adding ecological features to some of the properties.

"Solar panels are going to be used to help water heating as well as powering internal and external communal lighting in one block, and rainwater is going to be recycled.

"This is on top of the general measures which will already leave the homes with a very good energy efficiency rating, making them cheaper to run for residents."

The site was originally earmarked for employment land only, before the city council decided to give permission for housing after it remained derelict for four years.

The majority of the homes - 60 per cent - will be made affordable and deliberately priced below market value.

An office block will also be built with a frontage on Brickfields Road for businesses to rent or buy.

The project is expected to be complete by next spring.