A £7MILLION scheme to build a new council house development in Bournemouth is set to start this autumn.

Plans to build 50 new family homes on playing fields at Duck Lane, West Howe already have planning permission and will go before cabinet members on Wednesday.

It will be the biggest council house development in Bournemouth for three decades and will include six two-bedroom houses, 42 three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses, along with a new community building, cycle routes and skateboard park.

Councillor Robert Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said: “Providing more affordable homes in Bournemouth is a top priority for this council. If given the go-ahead, this will be the largest house building development by the council since the 1980s and will provide much-needed family accommodation for those residents currently on the housing register. This scheme will also give a boost to the local economy and provide jobs and apprenticeships.”