One of the town hall’s top councillors got to grips with a massive digger as work on £3.3million housing project neared completion.

Work on the 17 new homes in Zoffany Street, Archway, started in November 2012 and is expected to be finished by next month.

The new properties – 11 of which are for social rent and six for shared ownership – all feature solar panels on the roof and were made possible, in part, by a £580,000 new homes bonus handed to the council by central Government.

James Murray, executive member for housing and development, said: “Islington desperately needs more genuinely affordable housing.

“We are working hard to get new homes built in the borough, by building new council homes and by working with housing associations like ISHA who share our commitment to social rent.

“The extra funding we have provided has guaranteed that these properties – which are being built in little more than a year – are available at social rent for those who need them most.”