The first large-scale development of new council homes in St Albans for 30 years has been completed.

Twenty-five affordable houses have been built in the Batchwood area by St Albans City and District Council.

They will all be made available for rent to people on the council’s housing register with the first families due to move in this summer.

The site was previously used as garages but were deemed “no longer fit for purpose”.

The homes are a mix of one, two and three bedroom properties and are located in Ladies Grove, Partridge Road and Blundell Close.

The development is part of a £6 million regeneration project the council has been working on since 2013.

Work to construct a further 23 homes on two sites in Sandridge is due to be finished later this year. The council will also own and manage these homes.

The council has also been developing 34 affordable homes at seven of its other garage sites in partnership with a number of local housing associations.

Ownership of the sites has been transferred to the associations, although all of the homes for rent will go to people on the housing register. A few of the homes were made available for shared ownership.

Councillor Brian Ellis, responsible for housing, said: “The regeneration of our old garage sites has been a very exciting, imaginative and worthwhile project.

“It is also a demonstration of this council’s commitment to creating much-needed affordable housing for the district.”

The Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Rosemary Farmer, will be on site to officially open the new homes on June 25.