Two new show homes are now open at a controversial development which will see hundreds of houses built on land in Stevenage known as Forster Country.

Housebuilder Bellway is set to deliver 400 homes off North Road, with Miller Homes to deliver a further 396 homes.

Prices start from £330,000 for a two-bedroom house, and Bellway has now completed construction of two three-bedroom show homes on the site, with visitors attending a recent launch event.

Zoe Dobbs, Bellway North London sales manager, said: "It gave people a feel for the quality of the properties we are building here, and was a chance to imagine what it might be like to live here.

"Many of our visitors were particularly interested in the fact that all our properties at Forster Park will feature electric vehicle charging points and solar panels. It is all part of creating a modern and sustainable neighbourhood.

"It’s a fantastic development that is meeting a growing need for homes in this area and providing a wonderful country park for people to enjoy too."

However, the development has proved controversial, and the Friends of Forster Country group sought to stop development on the land. The group's campaign received the support of actress Emma Thompson and hundreds of residents.

Forster Country lies within the St Nicholas Conservation Area and includes author EM Forster's childhood home Rooks Nest House, Grade I-listed St Nicholas Church and Grade II-listed The Bury.

The development - named Forster Park - also includes a new primary school, shops, commercial space, public plaza and 93-acre country park.

Bellway says the country park will feature plant species referred to in Forster’s writing, and replicate original field patterns there, but the plans, which include a car park and toilet block, have been heavily criticised by campaigners.

Of the Forster Park development as a whole, a spokesperson for Bellway said: "The project is generating millions of pounds of investment in local services and infrastructure as part of the planning agreement for the development, and this will include more than £6.4 million to be contributed by Bellway. More than £4 million of this will go towards building a new primary school on site."