BOROUGH chiefs have struck a deal with a housing association to turn a number of sites in Ipswich into affordable housing, it was revealed today.

BOROUGH chiefs have struck a deal with a housing association to turn a number of sites in Ipswich into affordable housing, it was revealed today.

Work is currently under way to create seven new homes in Recreation Way, off Nacton Road in the south east of the town.

It is one of a number of 'small sites' schemes being developed in partnership between the council and Orwell Housing Association.

The development follows the recent completion of six homes in Foxhall Road after the council sold off a derelict site it purchased compulsorily under its Empty Houses Strategy.

Other small sites include Burke Road, Kildare Avenue, Fitzwilliam Close and Ulster Avenue. All are brownfield sites.

In addition, 36 affordable homes, half of them houses, will be built on the site of the old Clumpfields sheltered housing scheme, with work set to start in March.

Fire damage to the flats and persistent vandalism left the site as a boarded up eyesore.

Last year Raglan handed over the lease to the council who teamed up with Orwell Housing Association.

The developments will only make a small contribution to meeting the target of 15,400 houses within the Ipswich borough boundary by 2021.

But councillor Steve Wells, Ipswich Borough Council's housing portfolio-holder, said: “These small sites are helping us to deliver increasing numbers of affordable homes.

“We are not simply relying on properties being supplied by developers but are selling brownfield sites at a discount to housing associations to help more people in need.

“Another benefit is that we are solving many anti-social behaviour problems by developing derelict sites.”

Are there enough affordable homes in Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk