Work is underway on two new council houses in Tooting as the town hall’s Hidden Homes initiative continues.

The new three-bedroom, semi-detached properties, on Nutwell Street, are being built on former storage sheds and will be offered to local people on the housing waiting list at around half the open market rent.

Planning permission was granted last year, and the new homes are expected to be completed by contractor HA Marks Construction later in 2017.

The council’s Hidden Homes scheme has been running for over a decade and has seen more than 250 homes built on under-used spaces on council land. Zero land purchase costs means it is cheaper to build properties – other local authorities, such as Hackney and Southwark, have adopted the same approach.  

Improvements to neighbouring roads, pavements and open spaces are also included, so that local people can benefit from this council-led development going on near where they live.

Wandsworth has plans to build another 300 low cost council homes as the Hidden Homes model is now expanded to include large-scale stand alone developments on under-used council land.

Cllr Clare Salier, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “For years, Wandsworth has been building new council homes on sites like former garages, making more efficient use of space while providing new housing for local people. We’re building hundreds more in the next few years all over Wandsworth, one of many ways the council ensures that new homes for below market rent, shared ownership, and for sale are delivered in the borough.”