Work to build 23 affordable homes at former garage site should begin in the autumn.

Planning permission has been granted for the affordable housing project at Langley Gove and St Leonards, Sandridge.

A contractor is due to be appointed shortly with the work expected to be completed by spring 2019.

The houses are being delivered by St Albans City and District Council as part of a £5.7 million scheme to develop little-used garage blocks into new homes.

Work is already underway to build 25 homes for social rent across three garage sites in the Batchwood area of the city. They should be finished by March next year.

North Herts Homes has also started work on building seven homes at Telford Road, London Colney. This development is ahead of schedule and should be completed soon.

Councillor Brian Ellis, the council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “The conversion of disused garage sites into homes is one of our priority projects and great progress is being made.

“It is very exciting that we are providing much-needed affordable housing for people who are in housing need.”

Since 2013, five other garage sites in the district have been turned into 20 affordable homes.

The council is also redeveloping four sheltered housing blocks in St Albans that are showing signs of age.

Linley Court, in Valley Road, is to be turned into 28 properties by Aldwyck Housing for social rent.

A consultation with local residents is to be held over plans to demolish Wavell House, in Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, and build 24 homes for the elderly.

Betty Entwistle House, in Holyrood Crescent, has been demolished and transferred to housing association bpha which is building 40 homes for rent and shared ownership.

An architect has been appointed to report on how best Mereden Court, in Tavistock Avenue, can be redeveloped.

In another of the Council’s property initiatives, work is well underway at the site of the former St Albans Museum in Hatfield Road.

This is being turned into 10 homes for sale with the money raised going towards the new £7.75 million museum and art gallery.