TV presenter Kevin McCloud's grand designs for a derelict hospital site have won him the job of delivering an affordable homes scheme on the land.

Mr McCloud, has been selected as the best of eight submissions made to the owners of the Cashes Green Hospital site, the government's Homes and Communities Agency.

His company Hab Oakus will work on erecting 78 homes at the old hospital, 39 of them for affordable rent.

Grand Designs presenter Mr McCloud said Cashes Green could show how future housing developments, driven by local communities, could be unlocked.

"This will be an exemplar project, which has the involvement of the local community. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work on such an important project," he said.

The deal will see Hab Oakus also work with local residents to develop a full planning application for it.

Gloucestershire Land for People will own and manage the 39 affordable homes and the remainder will be sold on the open market.

Trust chairman Max Comfort said: "This is a massive step forward in the development of the Cashes Green site, we are looking forward to playing our part in what is, quite rightly, a flagship for delivering affordable housing in England."

Stroud District Council and Cainscross Parish Council are also closely involved in getting the project going.

The district's cabinet member for housing Councillor Debbie Young (Con, Chalford) said affordable housing and the environment were priorities for the council and locals.

"We're looking forward to seeing this exciting project come to fruition," she said.

Stroud's Conservative MP Neil Carmichael said he too was pleased.

It was in June last year that Stroud District Council gave the Cashes Green Hospital homes plan permission. That was despite a last minute, 50-name petition from people worried about keeping their allotments.

The council granted consent after members learned the scheme would bring back allotments that were not currently available to gardeners.

A full planning application will be submitted for the site later this year.