Rows of rundown garages have been transformed into new affordable homes to help ease shortages.

A total of 14 new flats and houses have been constructed around Swanley to be managed by the West Kent Housing Association.

They have replaced 67 old lock-ups across three sites in Kettlewell Court, Pear Tree Close and Northview.

Builders, the Helix Group, were appointed to carry out the £2.8million project which is the largest regeneration plan of its kind the 7,900-home housing association has undertaken in recent years.

The scheme provides a mixture of one-bedroom flats and two- and three-bedroom houses, with the first residents having moved in from August 2023.

All properties have electric air source heat pumps and are insulated above the levels required by building regulations.

One of the properties has been specially adapted to meet the needs of a local resident who is a wheelchair user.

As well as providing a kitchen with adjustable worktops and specialist white goods, Helix and West Kent have worked together and in partnership with Sevenoaks council to install a through-the-floor wheelchair lift so the resident can get to the first floor.

Anabel Palmer, director of development and partnerships at West Kent, said: “This is a great example of how we can utilise brownfield sites that are no longer fit for purpose with family homes that really meet the housing need of the local area.

“We’re really proud of the work we’ve done and the strong partnership working with Helix, which has resulted in 14 new homes that exceed building standards and support residents to live in a safe and energy-efficient home.”

Jon Schofield, construction director at Helix said: “We’re delighted to be completing these much-needed affordable homes in Swanley.

“Our close working partnership with West Kent means we have been able to maximise potential across these sites to provide high-quality, energy efficient homes for the local community.”

The development comes as part of West Kent’s ambition to continue to grow to 10,000 homes alongside investing in their current portfolio to ensure their homes better meet residents’ current and future needs.

West Kent Housing Association was established in 1989 to accept the transfer of homes from Sevenoaks District Council.

It was one of the first large scale voluntary transfer associations in the country.