A $7.6 million redevelopment in Western Sydney will deliver new social homes to support vulnerable people, while boosting jobs and the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

The vacant Lethbridge Street property in St Marys’ property – previously home to two ageing social housing cottages – will feature a new and modern apartment building with 13 one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom social homes to support vulnerable families.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said construction of the 21 home redevelopment will bring a much needed boost to the local economy.

“Building these new homes will inject money into local businesses and the local economy, supporting about 38 jobs during construction at a time when we need them most,” she said.

“It will also help us replace older housing stock which is typically under occupied, costly for the government and tenants to maintain and lag contemporary environmental standards.“

Located in a neighbourhood rezoned for higher density development, the four-storey brick complex includes basement parking and extensive landscaping to soften the streetscape.

Designed to meet BASIX and six star NatHERS environmental standards, each of the apartment will deliver water and energy savings for future tenants – there will be a common rainwater tank, and ceiling fans in living areas and bedrooms.

The project will also meet silver Livable Housing Australia standards, with three of the 21 homes able to be adapted to support the future needs of disabled tenants with mobility restrictions.

Mrs Pavey said the project has also been purposefully designed to complement future developments, with St Marys set to become a transport hub for the region.

“Western Sydney is undergoing exciting change, with the western Sydney airport to help create 200,000 jobs that will attract new businesses and new families to the area, and see Stars become a transport interchange for the aerotropolis,” she said.

The project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.

Construction is also underway nearby on a $16 million NSW Land and Housing Corporation project to deliver 44 social housing homes on Phillip Street in St Marys.

Both projects are among 50 across western Sydney, which will deliver more than 600 new social homes and will create 1,350 jobs through $270 million in construction activity.