MORE than 20 families are set to benefit from a £1.8million grant for social housing.

Waltham Forest Council has secured funding from The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) after submitting a bid last October.

The Government grant, combined with a £1.7million contribution from the council, will be used to build 22 homes for families on the council's housing waiting list.

There are currently about 13,000 people on the council's waiting list and the council has a target to build 7,600 more homes in 12 years.

The location of the new homes has yet to be decided.

The council aims to have them built by spring 2012.

Cabinet member for communities and housing, Cllr Marie Pye, said: “Being awarded £1.8million is fantastic news for the council and our residents, and will help us to provide much-needed housing for some of the families waiting on the housing register."

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