Basildon Council has handed over new council houses to residents for the first time in 25 years.

Residents who are currently on the homeseeker register are being placed into the properties in Quendon Road, Basildon.

Four two-bedroom homes were handed over during a special event on Thursday, which was attended by Basildon Council representatives and members of Indecon, the council’s contractor.

The new homes are in one of three locations where new properties are being built to house those most in need.

Three two-bedroom houses are planned to be built in Rettendon Gardens, Wickford, along with four two-bedroom homes in Victoria Road, Laindon.

To further assist families on the register, Basildon Council has outlined plans to develop a further 100 homes.

Alongside that, they will aim to add another 584 houses that will be built by Sempra Homes, the council’s housebuilding company.

Both the recently completed properties and those planned in the future are part of the council’s New Homes Programme.

The scheme has been implemented by the council to help improve the local environment for the community.

With more than 600 houses scheduled to be built over the next five years, Basildon Labour councillor, Gavin Callaghan, said: “We are serious about building council housing and ensuring we provide high quality homes for people in our borough.”

Mr Callaghan, who is also chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee for Basildon, added: “Our aim is to create strong and healthy communities with access to quality homes.

“We are also keen to increase the offer of other types of housing like shared ownership for the borough’s key workers.”