Work has started to build new council homes across Gosport, the council has revealed.

Fifteen new council homes will be built, spread across different locations in the borough for local families to rent at an affordable rate, Gosport District Council said.

The authority has stated that properties are being built in three locations.

Seven of the 15 homes will be built at Stoners Close, consisting of a mix of four and three-bedroom properties.

Three new council homes at Glebe Drive, all two-bedroom, and five at Wheeler Close, consisting of a mix of two and one-bedroom.

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All three locations were previously underused garage sites considered ideal for the new homes, which the council says will improve the appearance of each area.

Construction at each location has begun and is expected to take around a year to complete.

Cllr Sue Ballard, chair of the housing board at Gosport Borough Council, said: "This is a project which has been many years in the making, involving many councillors and officers, so I am delighted to see it off the ground.

"It will provide vital new affordable homes for Gosport families who badly need them, and help tackle the shortage of affordable housing locally."

These are the first new council homes built in Gosport since 2016.

The new homes will all be allocated to people already on the housing register, in accordance with Gosport Borough Council's allocation policy.

Gosport District Council is working with contractor PMC Ltd and local builders to deliver the new homes.

An information event was held earlier this year for neighbouring residents of the three areas.

These new homes are expected to be ready for families to move into in 2025.

The new Labour government has said it aims to build 1.5 million new homes in five years – which equates to around 300,000 a year.