A programme for building new council homes, the first in more than 25 years, is being launched by Winchester City Council.
Contracts are about to be signed to begin work on the first two sites: Bourne Close, Otterbourne, and Station Close, Itchen Abbas, which will provide eight new council houses.
An updated programme will go to Cabinet (Housing Delivery) Committee on 22 May setting out the sites to be taken forward up until 2016-2017 with plans for more new housing and improvements to open space.
The wide-ranging proposals aim to help tackle the serious shortage of affordable housing in the Winchester District. There will be an emphasis on the opportunities for more family housing and small housing to encourage downsizing.
The Portfolio Holder for Housing and New Homes at Winchester City Council, said: "Families have to wait six years for a three-bed house. This affects a wide range of people from young local people looking for a home for the first time to working families needing a larger house or older people needing a more suitable home.
"The building of affordable housing is a priority for the City Council.More affordable housing can benefit the wider community and the local economy. The new homes are being built due to a genuine housing need and no profit will be made. Due to the number of people on the housing waiting list, the Council is looking to provide 300 more affordable council properties within the Winchester District."
Steve Brine said: "I very much welcome this news, and am extremely proud that it is Conservative-led Winchester City Council which is building our first council homes for over a quarter of a century. It is clear there is a genuine housing need locally, and I look forward to seeing this continue to develop."
One project is in Knowle which would see new housing and provision of open space. Other projects include schemes aimed at those wanting to downsize, providing high quality accommodation for older people.
A report will be received by Committee on 22 May regarding the development of new housing in Abbotts Barton and the appropriation of land for housing purposes.
In Stanmore, the Stanmore Planning Framework, which has recently been out to public consultation, identifies a number of possible sites for new housing.One site is that of the former New Queen's Head pub. Feedback from the consultation is currently being analysed to decide whether any of these sites will be brought forward.
