Council and Peabody officials visit the site, with council leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz, third from left, next to Cllr Diarmaid Ward

CONSTRUCTION has begun on a major new housing development in the borough.

Spades have been put in the ground at the for­mer Holloway Women’s Prison site development in Pankhurst Road.

The Peabody housing association development will have 985 new homes including 415 for social rent and 178 for shared ownership, with residents set to move in from 2027.

Most of the social rent homes will have two or three bedrooms – of which there is a shortage – meaning some families will be able to escape overcrowding.

Residents near the site have complained that the construction is causing serious problems with dust and dirt in their homes, as well as damage to their properties.

Deputy council leader Diarmaid Ward has said: “We’re delighted that Peabody has taken up this once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform this historic site into hundreds of new homes for our residents.”