East Lothian agrees £174m council housing investment

Councillors in East Lothian have agreed to spend more than £174 million over the next five years on building new council housing and modernising existing stock.More than £100m has been earmarked for building new council homes with almost £65m to be invested in modernisation of existing council houses.In 2019/20 new council homes have been delivered across the county including in Prestonpans, Haddington, Gullane, Aberlady, Musselburgh and Dunbar. New site starts in Ormiston, Cockenzie, Haddington and Tranent will see more than 200 new council homes delivered over the next two years. More than 630 new council homes are programmed to be delivered in the next five years.The council said the delivery of these units will also be complemented by a record level of subsidy from the Scottish Government this year and next year with further affordable homes also being delivered by its housing association partners.The council will also continue its rolling programme of improvements to existing council houses. As well as over 450 bathroom and over 500 kitchen refurbishments, a programme of fire safety measures will commence in 2020/21. These include interlinked smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detection systems in all council houses and new fire-rated doors in flatted properties.