Work to begin on 349 new council homes in West Lothian

West Lothian Council’s ten-year pledge to facilitate the delivery of 3000 new affordable homes across the region will see work begin shortly on another project.A report at a recent meeting of council executive detailed various initiatives to increase the supply of housing locally in relation to the council’s affordable housing programme.Since the start of 2012/13, 2190 affordable homes have been delivered and a further 290 are currently under construction across sites in Livingston, Bathgate and Armadale.Three of the sites are part of the council’s new-build programme with the remaining six being developed by registered social landlords.Another 349 units are planned for site start during 2020/21 including council sites at Wellhead Farm, Murieston and Mossend, West Calder amongst numerous sites from Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the overall programme is projected to complete 94 per cent of the target 3000 units by March 2022, with the remaining six per cent complete by late summer 2023.Elsewhere, the council has signed new agreements with housing associations in a drive to cut the numbers of people forced into B&B and homeless accommodation.The new agreement as part of the council’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Policy RRTP is designed the tackle the growing demand for homes in the county.