With infrastructural work complete, construction has finally commenced at Ireland's first fully eco-friendly village.

Over €5m was invested in the initial works, which will ensure the 130 dwelling site has secure infrastructure.

Work on the village is expected to last almost two years. The site spans over 67-acres in Cloughjordan North Tipperary.

Aptly named The Village, proposals for the development first emerged 10 years ago. Families who already live on the site planned to incorporate renewable energy for heating, 50 acres of land for allotments, farming and woodland for growing food and trees, an enterprise centre and community buildings.

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There will also be a communal post area, an organic market, an enterprise centre, a centre for education for sustainable living and a hostel for visitors, while the pedestrian pathways will be lined with fruit and nut trees.

The first residents of the Village at Cloughjordan are due to move into their houses this summer.

Duncan Stewart, who launched the build-phase of the scheme, said the project was more time centric than many other housing developments.

"It leads the way in real sustainable development. Why? Because it brings together cutting edge technologies found in green building techniques, renewable energy production and natural waste systems and links them to both sustainable enterprises and the latest in community design," he said.

(PR/JM)