Council houses are to be built in Medway for the first time since the unitary authority took over.

More than 60 homes are to be constructed over the next three years.

They will be a mixture of houses, bungalows and flats with some larger properties to accommodate big families.

Around 40 homes will be built on land off Beatty Avenue, Gillingham, which used to be part of the former Gillingham Community College and another 22 will be built on council garage sites in Begonia Avenue and Westerham Close.

Others may be built on sites to be named in Twydall. The council could also increase the number of homes built by developing private land which is put up for sale.

Medway Council was formed in 1998 and took over homes previously owned by Gillingham Borough Council. Council houses in the rest of Medway were previously sold of to Medway Housing Society, now mhs homes.

The new build programme has been made possible by the removal of the government housing subsidy regime, resulting in new borrowing freedom.

Cllr Alan Jarrett, deputy leader and head of finance, said: “This is a rare opportunity to build new council housing by using our borrowing capacity and we must take it. The programme will in turn provide much-needed homes and jobs for local people.”

Cllr Howard Doe, head of housing added: “We want to offer people the chance to rent good quality, energy-efficient homes that they can afford.

“Also, residents can be assured that we will listen to what they have to say about individual sites as they come forward.

“We urge them to make use of the formal planning consultation process.”

The homes will be paid for with the £5.5million housing development programme which was agreed at a meeting of the full council.