Hundreds of council homes will be built in Waltham Forest in the next few years after the council admitted the housing stock had fallen “woefully behind demand”.

The couoncil’s waiting list currently stands at 16,000, with many living in temporary accommodation.

This week, the council’s cabinet discussed phase one of the programme, which will see 209 homes built on sites including the Marlowe Road and Montague Road estates.

A further 226 homes are planned between 2015 and 2018.

But Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, cabinet member for housing, said the council will aim to do more.

He said: “We are significantly expanding the scope of our ambitions in order to see more homes built in the borough.

“We are doing this by securing substantial funds through grants and borrowing and by changing our remit to be able to build a significant number of council homes on council owned land.”

The council plans spend an estimated £19million on temporary accommodation this financial year.

Earlier this year, the council secured a £9.7million grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and a £7million loan facility from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

The GLA grant will support the construction of 387 new council homes, while the loan facility will be used in conjunction with £3million of Right to Buy receipts to build 48 new homes on garage sites.

Cllr Limbajee added: “One of the key issues for us was to build homes that we can retain control over and ensure go to those in need.

“Our scheme is much more focused on finding homes for our residents who are currently struggling to find a place to live.”

The council is now applying for a Special Purpose Vehicle, which would allow it to retain greater control over the properties built by building on land it owns.