Gound breaking has taken place on three sites that will provide a total 50 new affordable homes.

All will be available for rent by local people on Dover District Council’s waiting list.

There will be 26 homes at Napchester Road in Whitfield, 16 at Kimberley Close, Buckland, and eight at Stockdale Gardens in Deal.

They are the latest phase in the biggest programme of new council housing in the district in a generation.

DDC plans to build up to 500 new affordable houses and flats.

Both the Kimberley Close and Stockdale Gardens developments are brownfield sites, formerly occupied by council garages.

They are for social rent and will provide interim accommodation for homeless people before they find permanent places.

The Napchester Road site is being developed by the authority as part of the Whitfield Urban Expansion.

It will provide one and two-bedroom flats plus two, three, and four- bedroom houses for affordable rent. A single five-bedroom house is also being built.

Cllr Derek Murphy, DDC cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re delighted to start work on the next phase of our affordable housing development programme, delivering new homes for local people.

“We’re also building better with homes that are more sustainable, designed to contribute to the Council’s net zero carbon target.”

All three developments are being built by Folkestone-based, Jenner Group.

Martin Sandall, managing director, said: “Jenner are incredibly proud to be delivering the next tranche of housing on behalf of Dover District Council.

"Working with such a proactive client is refreshing and rewarding and we look forward to the next stage of our journey with them in bringing the new homes to life.”

DDC has also submitted plans for another 24 new homes at Poulton Close in St Radigund's,

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