By Isabel Fosbery

Work has started on a block of flats on a former car park which bosses say will meet an “urgent need” for new homes.

Site owner Dover District Council (DDC) is building eight ‘affordable’ homes on land behind the Grade II-listed Alma House hostel in Military Road, Dover.

The block will consist of six one-bed, one two-bed and one two-bed wheelchair accessible flat.

In planning documents lodged in 2023, council bosses said the proposal would provide “high-quality new affordable housing to meet the urgent need for new homes”.

At the time, resident Lauren Davis raised concerns over the loss of the car park, which she said was “always full”.

“Please stop and think about all this as it's getting tedious with all these flats going up without any thought for the residents that already live in that area,” she said.

Despite her concerns, the scheme was approved in August 2023, and work started on site at the end of February.

DDC says the flats “will be let to local people at social rents”.

Cllr Pam Brivio (Lab), the authority’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This is an example of how we are breathing new life into vacant brownfield sites to bring much-needed affordable homes to the district.

“Our residents deserve a secure and affordable place to call home, and I can’t stress enough the positive and potentially life-changing impact this has on a person’s life.

“It’s more important than ever that we continue to deliver more affordable homes to local people across the district.”

Jake Barlow, project manager at BEC Construction Ltd, said: “We are pleased to work alongside DDC to deliver a fantastic project the community can enjoy and be proud of.”

‘Affordable’ housing schemes aim to make cheaper homes available for people who cannot afford to buy or rent at market rates.

The government says they should be "social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market".