More residents have moved into new homes built on a former hospital site in Hornchurch.

The 14 apartments, at St George’s Park off Suttons Lane, have been constructed by Bellway London in partnership with Havering Council-owned company Mercury Land Holdings (MLH).

They are part of a wider development of 356 homes overall on the site of the former St George’s Hospital, which shut in 2012. 

Bellway bought the 29-acre site from the NHS for more than £40million in March 2018. 

The first phase of the project included 194 homes and had tenants moving in from September 2020. Construction for a further 162 homes in phase two began in April 2021.

A new St George's Health and Wellbeing Hub is also being built to deliver a range of health, social care and community services.

Read More: Framework of the new health centre in Hornchurch completed

The 14 new homes are meant for “affordable rent”, the council said, and are among the block of one- and two-bedroom apartments that also include 18 shared ownership homes and four homes for direct sale.

The council rents out just more than 9,420 council homes, while other registered social housing providers offer 4,300 more.

But a council spokesperson said that the demand for social housing in Havering “significantly exceeds” the number of properties available.

In financial year 2022-23, they added, only “two in ten households” on the housing register had a realistic prospect of securing social housing.

The council continues to prioritise applications from Havering’s social workers, NHS workers and those working in education for these properties, they said.

Council leader Ray Morgan was joined by Cllr Paul McGeary, cabinet lead for housing, and Cllr Graham Williamson, cabinet lead for development and regeneration, in welcoming the new residents last week.

Cllr Morgan said these new “high quality” homes are another step towards providing more 'affordable' housing for Havering residents.

He added: “It remains a priority for this council to help with the high demand for affordable homes in the borough, and we continue to actively search for places the council can build, to increase our local housing stock to house more local residents.”