THE timber frames have gone up on the first homes at Royal View, marking a key milestone on the new housing development on the edge of North Petherton.

Barratt Homes' construction of 130 homes will create a new community set in 11.5 acres of wide-open space with views to the Quantock Hills.

The newly installed timber frames have been built using innovative off-site construction methods.

Precision-cut off-site, the frame is then transported to the construction site, offering advantages such as faster, more efficient building of homes, as well as sustainability benefits including a low carbon build process and responsibly sourced timber, minimising deforestation.

Homes on the development have this month (October) been launched for sale, so people can now snap up a property off-plan.

The mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, which includes 30 per cent affordable, is designed to appeal to a diverse range of people, helping to create a balanced new community for the town.

The development will include two play areas and cycle paths, plus the site is minutes from the shops and cafes of North Petherton.

Residents will also be given Green Travel Vouchers, which can be used to help buy bicycles and other sustainable forms of transport. During construction, the new development will support more than 400 jobs and generate over £1.5 million in tax revenue.

The name Royal View is a reference to its heritage as the original site of a deer park owned by King Henry II, who used timber from its oak trees to build nearby churches and buildings.

Andrea Pilgrim, sales director at Barratt Bristol, which covers the wider South West area, said: "It's great to have reached this important construction milestone on Royal View, which will provide much-needed new homes and a range of community benefits from play areas to cycle paths.

"We are proud to be using timber frames on this development, a highly innovative construction method that offers many advantages including environmental benefits. We are already seeing strong demand for these well-located properties surrounded by stunning countryside."

Homes at Royal View are now available to buy off-plan. For more information call Barratt Homes on 0333 3558 490.