The Castle Street site of the former Leven distillery has become a site for social housing.

Published 10 November 2020

Development of new affordable council homes in West Dunbartonshire  is set to continue at pace for the next five years.

The Council’s Social Housing Improvement Plan (SHIP)  details more than 1200 new social housing properties  to be introduced throughout the area between 2021 and 2026.

Some properties included in that number are already under construction, however  the continued level of development in the area will create 200 new homes every year.

The SHIP sets out strategic investment priorities for new affordable housing over a five year period between 2021/22 – 2025/26.

The programme of developments included in the plan will be progressed by the Council and partner housing associations including the Wheatley Group, Clydebank Housing Association, Dunbritton Housing Association, Caledonia Housing Association and Link Housing Association.

The projects have an estimated cost of £50million, with funding coming from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme, as well as Council and Husing Associations.

Developments include St Andrew’s in Clydebank, Haldane in Dumbarton, as well as a number of others which are not currently on site.

These include plans for 90 homes across sites in Pappert, Lilac Avenue and Bank Street.

Willox Park – the site has been earmarked for 20 new council homes.

The developments also include the site of the former care home at Willox Park in Dumbarton, which members agreed should be earmarked for new Council homes.

The area could offer enough space for 20 new build homes.

The site at Clydebank East, where demolition work was recently completed, is also part of the SHIP and will become the Council’s first zero-carbon housing development.

The report to the Housing and Communities Committee also details plans to seek funding to support the Council’s Buyback scheme, with a proposal that 100 ex-local authority homes are reacquired over the five year period.

Councillor Diane Docherty, Convener of Housing and Communities, said: “I welcome this clear plan for continuation of the recent growth of new affordable house building throughout West Dunbartonshire.

“I am extremely proud of the progress we have made in delivering on our More Homes Better Homes commitment, despite the challenges faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am pleased to see these  ambitious plans for the next 5 years.”

Councillor Caroline McAllister, Vice Convener of Housing and Communities, added: “As a Council we have already shown our firm commitment to delivering affordable homes in communities across West Dunbartonshire and it has been pleasing to see these progress, as well as hear of future plans to keep up this momentum. Together with our partner Housing associations, we are building a better West Dunbartonshire for our residents.”