Citra Living is to bring more than 150 new family homes to the rental market in Gloucestershire.

Citra, part of Lloyds Banking Group, owns and operates a growing portfolio of more than 2,000 homes across the UK. It has acquired 156 new properties from the country's largest housebuilder Barratt, as part of a strategic partnership between the two.

The new homes are situated at Barratt Homes Bristol's new Winnycroft Lane development in Matson.

The portfolio acquired by Citra includes a mix of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom properties, with the first homes expected to be ready for families to move in this summer.

The Winnycroft homes are part of a wider housing development of up to 420 homes. They are set within 15 acres of open space, including an orchard, play areas, sports pitches and allotments.

Citra and Barratt Developments' strategic partnership aims to bring forward much-needed new homes in the private rental sector more quickly. Together, Citra and Barratt have already brought more than 1,500 high quality homes to the market across projects in the South West, as well as Bedfordshire, Northumberland and Lancashire.

Andy Hutchinson, managing director of Citra Living, said: "Our long-standing partnership with Barratt has created a significant portfolio of high-quality homes - growing communities and delivering homes in places where people want to live. We look forward to welcoming our first customers to Winnycroft, as we reach this latest milestone in the partnership, which will pave the way for more new schemes in future."

Steve Mariner, sales and marketing director at Barratt Developments, said: "Winnycroft is an excellent development that showcases our ongoing partnership with Citra really well. It brings new homes to the private rental sector in Gloucestershire, where they join a thriving new community ready for people to move in this summer."