Hundreds of eco-friendly homes are to be built in Wales, it has been revealed.

The Welsh Assembly government has pledged some £80 million towards the construction of the properties that are to be built with high environmental specifications.

It was reported that the initiative comes in response to the recent Essex Report that investigated the issue of affordable housing in Wales.

Jocelyn Davies, deputy housing minister, said: "Less than five months after the report was published we are taking action to deliver one of its key recommendations."

She added that the review has encouraged those working for housing associations to provide new properties that are more effective in terms of reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency.

"This pilot scheme will help us investigate how we can achieve this on a large scale," Ms Davies reported.

Overall, 400 properties across 22 developments are to be constructed.

Meanwhile, environment minister Jane Davidson reported that planning procedure needs to do more to encourage the use of renewable energy technologies by developers.

In other news, it was recently revealed that Cottsway Housing Association has been given approval to build 40 affordable homes in the Oxfordshire village of Eynsham.

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