MORE affordable homes for rent are being built in Ipswich, according to figures unveiled by town chiefs today.More than 120 homes - most of them houses or bungalows - have either been recently completed or are under construction or in the pipeline.

MORE affordable homes for rent are being built in Ipswich, according to figures unveiled by town chiefs today.

More than 120 homes - most of them houses or bungalows - have either been recently completed or are under construction or in the pipeline.

Ipswich Borough Council has entered into an agreement with Orwell Housing Association to turn a number of small sites in the town, mainly old garages and other brownfield areas, into much needed homes for rent.

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said: “These homes are in addition to the many affordable homes, mainly flats, being constructed on the Waterfront, and others built on the Hayhills site and elsewhere.

“At present, developers constructing 15 homes or more must provide some affordable accommodation but the council is still seeking more houses for families.

“Six small sites have been identified and work on one, Recreation Way, will start in January.

“Here, seven bungalows, two to wheelchair standard, are replacing an old garage block plagued by vandals.

“This development follows the recent completion of 12 homes, half for rent, half for shared ownership, in Foxhall Road after the council sold off a derelict site it had previously compulsorily purchased under its empty homes strategy.”

Other sites earmarked for affordable homes by the council are in Clumpfield, Chantry, (36 homes), Burke Road (three bungalows), Kildare Avenue (11 houses and bungalows), Ulster Avenue (one bungalow) and Fitzwilliam Close (three bungalows).

Other new affordable housing is being provided in Victoria Street (two houses and one supported housing scheme) on land sold by the council to Sanctuary Hereward Housing Association.

At Ravenswood, 46 affordable homes are set for completion by the end of 2008. Thirty-four of these are houses or bungalows, and ten are wheelchair standard homes.

Councillor Steven Wells, the council's housing portfolio-holder, said: “By working with others and by selling at a discount small brownfield and often derelict sites in the town we are increasing dramatically the number of affordable homes for rent in Ipswich and the majority of these are houses and bungalows, some of them meeting wheelchair standards.”