AN open house event is being held later this month for people to view homes nearing completion on the Rainbow Way development, in Minehead.

The first of the 54 Somerset council properties is nearly finished and ready to open its doors to prospective tenants.

The two-bedroom, end-of-terrace house will be the first council home built in West Somerset for more than 30 years.

Visitors will have an opportunity to hear first-hand about progress on the estate, off Seaward Way, its low carbon technology, and how to register for the new properties, which will be a mix of 33 flats and 21 houses.

The open house event is being held on Tuesday, June 18, from 2pm to 5pm.

Council housing director Chris Brown said: “The council and the housing service are really excited that the first council homes in the west of the county for many years are nearing completion.

“We believe the quality and low energy specification which we have used will make these wonderful homes for many years.”

The first home is expected to be handed over to tenants next month.

Priority for the new properties, a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom flats, will be given to those living in or having connections to Minehead and the adjoining parishes of Minehead Without, Selworthy, Wootton Courtenay, Timberscombe, and Dunster.

They will be made be available on www.homefindersomerset.co.uk.

The homes are being built by Classic Builders and will aim to meet 2050 zero-carbon standards.

Representatives from the firm and the council will be at the open house event to answer questions.

Rainbow Way has ambitious energy performance targets, working towards the Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) definition of net zero.

Low carbon technologies including photovoltaic panels, thermal storage with smart controllers, and air source heat pumps will be installed, leading to lower energy bills for residents.

The construction is using innovative low carbon insulated clay blocks to improve heat retention.

The development was approved in 2020 and is now 12 months behind the original schedule for completion in the spring of last year.