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Rundown garages and former bedsits on a Finsbury estate have been transformed into new homes for rent and purchase.

The Town Hall has created 13 homes – six council homes for social rent, four shared-ownership homes and three for market rent – on the Brunswick Court estate. Former bedsits have been turned into new wheelchair-accessible homes.

Lennox Charles, chairman of the estate’s tenant management organisation (TMO), said: “I am very happy to see this great change. When I joined the TMO in 2000 there were all these old garages and it was very dilapidated around here.

“But if you have the vision, you can stay positive. It is a completely different place now. It’s a great estate. I feel good looking down from the 12th floor, and we are looking forward to welcoming the new residents into the TMO.”

Two of the new council homes were allocated through Islington’s Local Lettings and Local Sales policy, which gives people from the local estate first chance to rent new council homes. People living and working in Islington have also been given first chance at the homes for shared-ownership and market sale.

Housing chief Councillor Diarmaid Ward joined residents viewing the new homes on Tuesday. He said: “Islington is facing a housing crisis, and we’re committed to building more genuinely affordable housing for residents.

“I’d like to say a big thanks to residents who put up with inconvenience and disruption during this major project. It’s great to see the end result – good new council homes and a better-looking estate.”

Islington Council has recently built new council homes in Lyon House, off Caledonian Road, and at Parkhurst Road in Holloway.