A £5.8m deal to build 43-new affordable homes on a disused college campus at Wrens Nest, Dudley, has been signed off by housing association Midland Heart.

The scheme, a partnership between Midland Heart, developers Lovell Partnership Ltd and with grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), will see a mix of one-bedroom flats and two, three and four bedroom houses built in Mons Hill.

The site, which is just a short distance from Dudley town centre, was previously home to one of Dudley College campuses and is close to Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve - a site of geological interest and rich in fossils and wild flowers.

Chris Miller, director for development at Midland Heart, said: “We are delighted to be working with Lovell Partnerships on this new development in Dudley.

“This project will provide much-needed affordable housing for local people in an enviable location."

Tony Evans, regional operations director at Lovell, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract by Midland Heart and look forward to working together to deliver much-needed high-quality homes to the Mons Hill area.”

The development, which was granted detailed planning permission in January 2015, is set for completion next spring.

All of the homes will be available for rent and applications for the first properties will be taken by the end of the year through Homes Direct - www.homesdirect.org.uk.