Vacant flats and houses at a council estate in Reading are in the process of being demolished to make way for new homes.

Reading Borough Council has engaged in a project to redevelop the Dee Park Estate to build more than 700 new homes and neighbourhood facilities.

The development is a phased project that will see 705 new homes, an extra care facility, a community centre and a newly built Ranikhet Academy primary school.

The latest news is that the demolition of homes, storage and garages has begun to make way for the next phase of the development.

READ MORE: Schoolkids and neighbours get together for Dee Park estate litter pick

Prior to the demolition project, details of how the demolition will be managed were submitted to the council's planning department.

These details were approved on August 22.

Part of the Dee Park estate sealed off for the redevelopment of the area.Part of the Dee Park estate sealed off for the redevelopment of the area. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

A photo from October shows a J Mould demolition vehicle being used on the site.

New homes and community facilities have been delivered progressively at the estate in Norcot.

The Dee Caf café opened in September 2020, and the Dee Space Community Centre opened in August last year.

Of the 705 homes being provided, 279 will be made affordable at Reading social rent levels, 10 will be provided through shared ownership, with 416 homes being sold on the private market.

The regeneration of the Dee Park Estate is being undertaken as a joint venture between the council, contractors Willmott Dixon and the Peabody housing association.