New council homes 'for people with local connection'

Work on a new, small council estate designed for people on the social housing waiting list who have a connection to the area is set to begin within weeks.

Wigan Council said work on building 24 one-bedroom homes in Leigh, Greater Manchester, would begin in September.

Tenants would be expected to pay about 40% below market rent, councillor Dane Anderton said.

He said the homes would be allocated to "people on the social waiting list with a local connection" and that he had already been approached by residents asking how they could apply.

The new homes will be built between Keble Grove and Kingsley Street in the town.

A letter sent by the council to residents nearby stated that work was due to begin next month, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Anderton said the homes would be "council-owned, general needs housing, let at a social rent – typically around 40 per cent below market rent".

"The homes will be allocated through the council's housing waiting list, with a local lettings policy also expected to apply," he added.

He said it was "great to see more genuinely affordable council homes being built locally" and the area would also be enhanced with new paths and greenery.

Wigan Council said the properties would be mainly let to single people in need of council accommodation, although couples might also be considered for some of them.

The plans for the development include off-street parking for each home and gardens with trees.

The open space that remains on Keble Grove is to be improved with a new landscaping scheme.

Site clearance work is expected to take place later this month. The houses are expected to be finished in about 15 months.

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