UP to 50 energy efficient, affordable homes are set to be built in the Borders next year.

Eildon Housing association has announced it will create the new houses set across four communities.

And Innerleithen and Broughton are on the list along with Westruther and Denholm.

A spokesperson for the social landlord said: "Warmer, cheaper, more affordable homes is something we all want, and this could be a reality as Eildon Housing look at future house building and its impact on the environment.

"The need for affordable housing in the Borders has hit an all-time high, with recent figures showing, on average, 17 people bidding for every home that becomes available.

"To meet this need it is important to be able to build a house quicker and make it cheaper to heat and therefore eradicate fuel poverty especially in rural parts of the Borders reducing our use of fossil fuels."

Working in partnership with Scottish Borders Council, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Glasgow School of Art, the new developments will be part of a study to compare construction costs, time to build, living quality, and whether the homes are financially viable to build. 

The spokesperson added: "The developments at Westruther, Broughton, Denholm and Innerleithen will see up to 50 new green homes built and will test different building methods from passivhaus, energiesprong, volumetric and the traditional build we’re all used to.

"Potential new tenants will be heavily involved in the study for a period of time when they move in, as the results will be used to determine not only the future building programme for Eildon, but also lead the way for how Scottish homes are built and lived in, in the future."