Work has begun on a new road which will open up 10 acres of land for a housing development.

It is the second step towards building 77 homes on the site behind Biggins Wood Road in Folkestone.

As well as the road, utility services will be put in place so developers can move on to site and begin building.

A £1.15 million grant from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund has helped to fund the project.

Once complete, 14 of the homes will offered at affordable rent to those on the council’s housing waiting list and nine will be for shared ownership.

Council leader Cllr David Monk (Con) said: “I am delighted to see the site cleared and made ready for the exciting prospect of new homes for our district.

“The beginning of work on the new access road marks real progress and I look forward to seeing it completed later this year enabling the developers to move in and begin building.”

FHDC purchased the derelict land for £1.5 million in 2017 to deliver on its promise for “much needed new homes and jobs for local people”.

The first stage of the project included ecological surveys to identify wildlife living on the site.

Other work included removing fly-tipped rubbish and weeds.

A commercial area will also be developed offering up to 5,600sq m of space for new and existing businesses.

No tenancy applications for the new homes are being taken yet.