THE 'FIRST few bricks' have been laid at a Feltham social housing development - the first to be built in the borough for nearly 20 years.

Work is under way at Elmwood Avenue, where 19 social rented council owned homes are being built at the site where Elmwood House and Olaf Palme House stood.

The properties were demolished last November to make way for the new development, which is part of a council pledge to provide more affordable homes.

The homes will cost more than £3m in total to develop.

The council’s deputy leader, councillor Ruth Cadbury, was on hand on Monday to lay a few bricks as a celebration of the works.

Hounslow Homes are working in partnership with the council to oversee the construction of the housing by social housing contractor United House Limited. The project is expected to be complete before the end of the year.

Hounslow Council’s plans for the site were supported by a grant of £1.9 million from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The development will consist of a range of one and two bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five bedroom houses, with two of the houses specifically designed for disabled residents.

A council spokesman said: "All homes will be built to high energy efficiency standards and meet level four of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

"Once completed, the new council-owned homes will be available for social rent and managed by Hounslow Homes. As well as new homes, the project will create apprenticeship placements for local residents."

Feltham residents were consulted on the designs for the scheme last year.

Cllr Cadbury, who is responsible for housing and service improvement in the borough, said: "The area has been completely transformed already, and hopefully the construction will continue to progress smoothly and provide modern, stylish, affordable housing to the Feltham area.

"These will be the first council-owned homes built in around 20 years, and we are never standing still in our quest to provide more affordable housing across Hounslow."

Bernadette O'Shea, the chief executive of Hounslow Homes, said: "These 19 new affordable homes are exactly what the area needs and we are thrilled to be partners on this project."