The first new council housing in 30 years in Lewisham will be advertised this week for prospective tenants to bid for.

Lewisham Homes, working with Lewisham Council, built the six new homes on Mercator Road in Lee on the site of derelict old garages.

The new homes are energy efficient, have private family gardens with bike stores and refuse and composting facilities.

Chair of Lewisham Homes Board, Julia Cotton, said: "We have taken neglected land and transformed it into six fabulous new and much needed homes for local families.

"We desperately need more social housing and it's great to see Lewisham Homes leading the way creating new social housing opportunities for Lewisham people.

These homes are just the first of 100 homes which will be built by Lewisham Homes and the council.

Lewisham Council have pledged to build 500 new council homes over the next five years as part of the New Homes Better Places Programme.

Lewisham Council cabinet member for housing, Damien Egan, said: "This is part of our ambitious programme to build new homes, invest in social housing and housing for older people and working with developers to build homes for Lewisham people at affordable prices.

The four three bedroom homes and two, two bedroom homes on Mercator Road will be advertised on Lewisham Homesearch this week for families to bid for.

London based construction company, Rooff Limited built the new homes on behalf of the council.

Lewisham Homes manages 18,000 council homes in the borough and employs more than 450 staff.

It is undertaking a major investment programme to improve homes and local communities as well as building new homes in Lewisham.