Construction has started on the first stage of a 500 home development with 30 acres of public open space in Kennett near Newmarket.

Bellway's 'Kennett Garden Village' has started with the construction of 324 homes on land to the south-west of Station Road.

Of the 324 houses due to be built, development company Bellway will oversee the construction of 160 at The Fern, while Ashberry Homes is delivering 164 properties at Lark's Place. 

The council gave the green light for the first phase of development in February, including one- and two-bedroom apartments and two-, three- and four- bedroom houses.

It is expected to be part of a wider project, as outline permission for up to 500 homes on the site was granted in 2019. 

The wider plans for Kennett, near Newmarket, include 30 acres of public open space, a village centre, care home, school and enterprise park.

Dean Takkou, construction director of Bellway Eastern Counties, said: "We have been looing forward to getting started on this key housing scheme, which has been designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly."

The first homes are planned to be released for sale before the end of the year, with showhomes opening in early 2024.