Bexley Council has announced that £1million works at Old Farm Park will begin in January 2020.

The sum will fund space for 58 new homes and according to the plans, 36 per cent of the new homes will be “affordable” housing, just above the council’s target on new developments, but split between affordable rent and shared ownership.

BexleyCo Homes, the council's development company, has appointed United Living, a provider of refurbished and new build living solutions, as its contractor.

The costs will work directly in two phases, to improve the western section of the park and to create homes on the eastern part of the site.

Residents have previously petitioned against the plans for the Sidcup park - which were approved earlier this year - due to their belief that the development would result in overcrowding and over-development.

Leader of the Council, Teresa O’Neill OBE, said: “I am confident that local people will be very pleased with the park, its new facilities and the ecological environments that are being created.

“The way the land is used will benefit the community and money generated from the sale of homes will benefit the borough and our residents.”

A petition of more than 2,000 signatures was handed into the council urging them to refrain from building on the park four years ago.

Bexley Co’s Chairman, Michael Hill, said: “This marks Bexley Co’s first development site to deliver quality homes for residents."

Parts of the western section of the park are expected to reopen in spring of 2020 and all the park improvements should be completed by the summer.

Construction of the residential element is scheduled to be completed by summer/autumn 2021.