The construction of new homes for those most in need of housing is to speed up after a partnership was formed between an award-winning housebuilder and a council.

The new agreement between The Hill Group and Gravesham council is aimed at accelerating the supply of new affordable homes.

There are more than 1,000 people on the borough’s housing register and it is hoped the new homes will help “local people who need them the most”.

Cllr John Burden, leader of Gravesham council, said: “We have long-held ambitions to build hundreds of new council homes in order to provide real social housing for those with demonstrable roots in Gravesham, thus reducing the number of people on our housing register.”

Work is now under way to find suitable sites to build the homes.

Cllr Jenny Wallace, the council’s cabinet member for housing services, said: “The current cost of living crisis is hitting local people hard.

“Many are finding that for the first time in their lives, they can no longer afford to live in their own homes, and we have more than 200 households in temporary accommodation.

“We are currently identifying suitable council-owned land where we can install them...”

“This is an all-time high for Gravesham, which has cost us more than £1 million in the last financial year.”

Recognising the need to tackle homelessness in the borough, The Hill Group is also donating eight purpose-built SoloHaus homes to the council which have been designed to offer safe, secure and quality accommodation for the most vulnerable people in society.

The donation is part of the Hill’s Foundation 200 initiative, which is a £15 million pledge to design and donate 200 modular homes to local authorities and homelessness charities by 2025.

“We are so grateful to Hill for their generous offer to donate these modular homes that will help prevent people from becoming homeless,” said Cllr Wallace.

“We are currently identifying suitable council-owned land where we can install them and are working to have them in use as quickly as we possibly can.”