DOZENS of social homes deemed unsustainable by a housing group have been knocked down to make way for a set of new properties.

Greenfields Community Housing says work has officially started on 34 new affordable homes on a brownfield site in Spalding Close, Braintree.

The new-builds will replace 20 rented and 11 temporary homes which were previously on the site.

Greenfields says tenants and residents living in those properties have been rehoused.

The new homes will include a range of two, three and four-bedroom properties and will be offered out for rent or shared ownership.

It is hoped construction work, which is being carried out by Hill Partnerships, will be completed next year.

Greenfields chief exec Emma Palmer said: “We’re committed to building nearly 1,800 new affordable homes over the next six years, to help tackle the housing crisis and build safe and strong communities.

“I look forward to seeing the finished result and the new residents settled into their homes and neighbourhood next year.”

Greenfields has overseen the construction of 625 homes since 2011 and aims to own and manage 9,000 across East Anglia by 2020.