More council homes are set to be bought and built in a town that is currently under strain from the housing crisis.

Hastings Borough Council's housing acquisition programme has been put in action over recent months after the council agreed earlier this year to release funding to buy up to 50 homes.

At the moment, the council has already bought 40 properties, with 15 already being lived in by people who were on the council waiting list.

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This has already reduced temporary accommodation costs paid for by the council by more than £185,000.

The council has also saved £413,000 in grant funding by underspending on building and renovating these 15 tenanted properties.

Out of the 40 homes purchased so far, Hastings Borough Council said five of these homes are one-bed, seven are two-bed, 19 are three-bed and nine of the properties have four-bedrooms.

Another £21 million in government funding has now been issued to enable the next stage of the acquisition programme to begin, which will see approximately 124 more homes provided to those in need in the town.

These properties will all meet the council's Fit to Let standard by ensuring residents are provided with good quality housing, with a minimum EPC rating of C.

Councillor Glenn Haffenden, lead for housing at the council, said: "I am extremely pleased that we will be building the first council homes in Hastings for many decades.

"With property prices rising, and a lack of suitable, affordable accommodation for households to move into from emergency accommodation, this news is a welcome step in the right direction, with hundreds of residents being provided with somewhere safe and secure to call home.

"We know we have a long way to go to tackle the housing crisis that is currently impacting Hastings, but we are delighted to see local residents being able to stay within Hastings and close to their support networks, children's schools, and work.

"I want to thank the housing team at Hastings Borough Council, who have worked tirelessly to provide residents in need with these homes, allowing them a better quality of life."