Work has begun on the first new council homes to be built in Colchester for 20 years.

Colchester Borough Council (CBC) is developing five sites to help address the shortage of affordable homes in the borough.

The sites being built upon are disused garages, which are being transformed to provide 34 new homes.

The new homes will feature energy efficiency measures, gardens and off-road parking.

They will be available through the council’s existing house letting scheme with gives preference to people with a local connection to Colchester.

Tina Bourne, borough councillor for housing, said “These are the first homes the council has built in 20 years.

“We are committed to tackling the housing shortage in Colchester through this and through the support of other developments across the borough.

“I look forward to seeing how these sites progress.”

The five sites are at Windsor Close, Holborough Close and two sites in Monkwick Avenue, all in Colchester, and Rosabelle Avenue in Wivenhoe.

Work is progressing well on all of the sites, with construction expected to be completed on some of them by the end of the year.

There had been some local opposition to individual schemes.