The Nationwide building society wants other organisations across the UK to follow its decision to build more than 200 homes in Swindon as part of a strategy to strengthen community ties and put a roof over people’s heads.

The group said it hoped to have started work on ambitious scheme to build 239 homes on a site at Oakfield campus, near its headquarters in Swindon by the end of this year.

The new homes will be for sale or rent, including affordable housing, and would promote what Nationwide called “inter-generational living”.