Builders to start work on council homes today

Construction staff were expected to start work on the site in Rother View Road, Canklow, early today, where 29 houses and apartments are to be built for Rotherham Council.

Work will start next Tuesday on another project in Albert Road, West Melton, where 29 houses, apartments and bungalows are to be built, and construction on a third 21-house site, in Albany Road, Kilnhurst, will start on August 26.

In total 127 homes are planned on six sites across the borough, which will be paid for by an 8.5m grant from the Government's Homes and Communities Agency.

Two sites are also to be developed in Maltby by the end of the month with eight houses and bungalows built at Newland Avenue, and four apartments at Stone Park Close.

Work on all the sites will start before September.

The cabinet member for housing at Rotherham Council, Coun Jahangir Akhtar, said the ongoing construction was "great news for the borough", and added:

"After waiting for so many years to be able to build new council housing, to see these developments physically taking shape is fantastic.

"We are still on course to be able to offer families and individuals excellent new council-owned properties in just 12 months time.

"It's also great to see

local labour being used on the constructions and the future

of the borough being supported with both apprentices

student placements getting the sort of training and expertise that will help to set them up for life."

Area manager for the Homes and Communities Agency Kate Reid added: "We are very pleased that our investment has enabled Rotherham to create 127 new homes where people not only want to live but also can afford."