Mayor of Hackney Phil Glanville laid the final brick at a housing project to use up empty land where 15 families will soon be able to live into new council homes.

Hackney Gazette: Mayor of Hackney Phil Glanville attended a topping out ceremony in King Edwards Road. Picture: Paul StallardMayor of Hackney Phil Glanville attended a topping out ceremony in King Edwards Road. Picture: Paul Stallard (Image: (C) 2016 Candid Pictures. Free for use)

There will also be 17 homes for outright sale once complete at the development in King Edwards Road, South Hackney, to help pay for the new social housing in the absence of any government funding.

The scheme is part of the council’s 18-site estate regeneration programme. Before construction the site had been derelict for nearly 20 years.

It will be completed in the next few months.

Phil Glanville said: “I’m proud that Hackney has one of the biggest social housebuilding programmes in the country, delivering new, much-needed council homes for local people.

“That’s why I was delighted to join local residents to mark this latest milestone in building the thousands of homes our borough, and our city, so badly needs.”