The borough's key workers will be relieved to hear a scheme to provide them with affordable new homes could get them housed in Croydon as soon as June this year.

Croydon Council is currently drawing up a list of priority workers who work in Croydon but can not afford to live here.

In a £9 million housing development on land near Haling Manor School, Pampisford Road, Purley, 12 apartments and four houses have been built, meaning 64 nurses and teachers will soon be able to live near where they work.

The scheme works by offering part mortgages on properties so that ownership is shared until such a time that they can afford to buy the remainder.

Councillor Tony Newman said Croydon has been feeling the impact of high property prices, making boroughs like Croydon less attractive to much-needed professionals. Coun Newman said this year a total of £21.5 million is in the pipeline for similar initiatives.