A GROUP of seven families are the latest to snap up plots at Bicester's self-build site in a bid to construct their dream homes side by side.

The group of family friends, including Dheeraj Malik, have lived in the same street for the past three years and hope to move and create their own community in Graven Hill, being built in southern Bicester.

Mr Malik, who moved with his family and one other family to the UK from Delhi, India, in 2002 started to make new friends near his then-home in Hounslow, London.

Not satisfied with simply living in the same area, the group of families, who became firm friends over the years, moved to the same street in Slough, Berkshire.

Now they have decided to move to Bicester in a bid to create their dream homes while still living side-by-side.

Mr Malik said: “When we first heard about Graven Hill we saw a golden opportunity to come together and build our own community.

"We did not want to purchase bog standard new-builds, and we are all really interested in the prospect of self-building.

"We currently live on the same street in Slough in town houses, but the designs of our homes don’t match our lifestyles.

"We love nothing more than coming together as a group for events and cultural festivals but our houses aren’t practical enough for that."

There are 11 families as part of the group living in Slough and seven of them have reserved plots at Graven Hill.

The build is expected to start early next year, with the families moved in by the end of 2018.

It is hoped all 11 families will move to the site over the coming years.

The self-build site allows people to purchase plots and then design their own homes or choose from a series of 'modular' designs.

Mr Malik added: "We are going to be living as a group on the same street, but ultimately each home will be as individual as the family living in it.

"With all of our families living in India, we have become each other’s family.

"We enjoy spending time together and support each other through challenging times.

"Our friendship is built on community spirit, and the idea that should we need it; help is always around the corner, literally."

The first phase of construction has started at Graven Hill, formerly owned by the Ministry of Defence before Cherwell bought the land in 2014, and it is expected to house up to 1,900 homes in total once complete.