A development of green homes in Staffordshire are opening their doors to the lucky new residents, who are settling into their new homes which have been built to help meet the city's housing shortfall. The 17 eco-homes have been built as part of a £1.5 million project to meet the high demand for two-bedroom bungalows across Stoke-on-Trent. Building work on the properties finished last month and all of the homes, complete with solar panels, under-floor heating and level access wet room bathrooms, are now occupied.

Haywood Engineering College pupil Josh suffers from hypoplastic anaemia from inadequately functioning bone marrow and at times, needs a wheelchair to get around. Mrs Lowe, aged 35, said: "We needed a home which could be adapted to Joshua's needs and this is ideal because he doesn't have to climb any stairs and can manoeuvre his wheelchair through the wide doorways and hallway.

"He can access all areas of the house and it is just fantastic. It also benefits us in terms of it being eco-friendly. Josh's condition means he needs to be kept warm and we are able to do that now at a cheaper rate. We are glad we have somewhere to call our permanent home."

Mr Lowe, aged, 42, added: "We had lived in a town house in Burslem for 14 years and it was very difficult for Josh to use the stairs. We were also spending up to £800 a quarter on electricity, so we really appreciate having a bungalow like this."

The homes, which are purpose-built for elderly and disabled residents, are the first properties to be built by Stoke-on-Trent City Council since 1987, when bungalows were constructed in Dividy Road, Bentilee.

Josh said: "Our house is much better now. At the old house, when I was having a bad day I couldn't get up the stairs but now I can just come in and go straight to my room."

Councillor Gwen Hassall, cabinet member for social services, said: "It is absolutely fantastic that these buildings are no longer properties, they are homes. We have tried large housing estate developments in the past and this time we didn't want to just create new communities, but to bring families into existing ones.

"It is great to see how beneficial the homes are to people like Josh and his family."