Work on the country’s ‘biggest council house building programme’ has started in a £150 million initiative to build 1,000 Wandsworth homes.

Projects are currently underway in both Deeley Road and Stewart’s Road, Battersea, following the launch of the ‘Building Homes for Wandsworth People’ last year.

It aims to provide 60.5 percent of the homes at discounted rates for residents who live or work in the borough so they can either rent or buy at ‘affordable’ rates.

Councillor Ravi Govindia, Wandsworth Council’s leader, said: “I am not prepared to allow a situation where residents’ sons and daughters are priced out of renting or buying a home in their borough, as well as other working households vital to the local economy and to local services.

“Building Homes for Wandsworth People is delivering 60.5 percent as council housing and shared ownership, exceeding targets set by the Mayor of London and the GLA who support our plans.”

Wandsworth Council has said the council housing will begin at 35 percent of market rent value while shared ownership with ambition to support people on to the property ladder.

Work in the two Battersea roads are for a combined 42 homes while a council chiefs will consider other areas in the borough for work on January 22.