Brent Council is to build seven of its own homes for the first time in three decades.

The new homes are being built by Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) with funding from the council and Greater London Authority (GLA)and aim to be completed by June 2016.

The seven new council-owned family homes will be built on former garage sites in Slough Lane in Kingsbury, Eskdale Close in North Wembley and Runbury Circle in Kingsbury.

Representatives from the council, BHP and Eskdale Close Residents Association visited Eskdale Close where two three-bedroom family homes are being built for ‘affordable rent’.

The homes will cost £1.4million to build with help from a grant of £326,000 from the GLA.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, lead member for housing and development at Brent Council said: “This marks a significant step for us. Although we are working hard to get more affordable homes built in Brent and our figures show we are achieving this, demand still continues to outstrip supply.

“Affordable family homes are especially difficult to find and that is why we have embarked upon this exciting programme.

“This is the first time in three decades that the council has funded its own building programme and today we mark the beginning of this new approach, with more homes to be built in the future.”

Joanne Drew, chair of BHP, said: “We are very pleased to have been chosen as Brent Council’s preferred partner to build new homes in the borough and are committed to working with the council to ‘build a better Brent’. We will endeavour to provide a high standard of homes in which residents can feel happy and proud and aim to work closely with our residents to invest in communities for the future.”

Patricia O’Reilly, chair of Eskdale Close Residents’ Association said: “I think it’s positive that BHP and Brent Council are building new family homes which will benefit people in housing need. I was once homeless and being offered council housing really helped me and changed my life. I believe everyone deserves a roof over their head and it’s encouraging to see BHP and the council making a real difference in the community.”