WORK to build the first council homes in Lewisham in almost 30 years has got underway.

Six new family homes are being built in Lee, on a site containing dilapidated garages between Mercator Road and Lee High Road. A pair of the houses will have two bedrooms and four will have three bedrooms.

Each home will have a private family garden including bike stores, refuse and composting facilities.

It is planned for the buildings to be built to very high standards of energy efficiency, equipped with solar panels, triple glazed windows and efficient ventilation systems.

The development is part of the New Homes Better Places programme, a joint initiative between Lewisham Council and Lewisham Homes. The programme will deliver 250 new council homes in the next four years.