A multi-million pound project to buy and refurbish run-down properties for council housing stock has been given the green light.

Redbridge Council’s neighbourhood and communities service committee has approved the purchase and repair scheme in an effort to provide new affordable homes.

Cllr Muhammed Javed, cabinet member for housing, said: “This is a small but very important project, with hopefully many more to come.

“It’s important because it means local homes for local people and addition in our stock. It also means savings for the council tax payers when less homeless families are placed in expensive temporary accommodation.”

The work will cost £2.15m, with up to £1.9m funded by the council and the remaining budget met by GLA funding.

The council hopes to buy about nine properties in the initial scheme – or more if the budget allows – and bring them up to standard.

The aim is to help relieve some of the pressure on the council’s housing stock while projects to build other properties are completed.

A report presented to the committee last week said there was an “acute need” for affordable housing in Redbridge.

The council is building its own new stock but the report said it was “relatively small scale” and not creating enough homes.