Council to invest over £150m in housing
West Lothian Council will spend £154 million increasing and improving their housing supply over the next five years.
Council tenants will also see their rents for homes and garages increase by three per cent per annum after councillors agreed to the housing budget at a meeting on Tuesday, February 13.
Over £79 million from the budget will be spent on increasing the housing supply over the course of the next five years.
This includes the completion of the current new-build programme of 1000 houses in addition to a commitment to construct a further 250 new council homes.
A further 90 Open Market Acquisitions will be incorporated into the programme, as the council continues to look at expanding the housing supply and achieve a target of delivering 3000 new houses during the period 2012-2022.
The capital programme for housing will also invest over £75 million to improve the existing stock. Projects will include investment in energy efficiency measures and replacement of central heating systems to help reduce fuel poverty.
These works are part of planned maintenance programmes that also include electrical testing and repairs along with painting fencing work.
Planned work will continue on environmental programmes and external upgrading projects, including tenant-led street improvements projects.
Major refurbishments include the completion of regeneration work at the Bathville flats in Armadale as well as the continuation of roof, render, stair and balcony works at the Lochs Scheme in Whitburn.
George Paul, Executive councillor for services for the community, said: “West Lothian Council is committed to providing new, affordable, high quality council homes in West Lothian.
“A significant amount of investment is going towards the completion of 1000 new council homes across all ward areas as part of our existing, new build programme with a new commitment to deliver a further 250 homes in the years ahead.”
“As well as providing new council homes, there will be a renewed focus on the maintenance and refurbishment of properties, to continue to maintain the Scottish Quality Housing Standard.
“Our recent Tenants Satisfaction survey results highlighted that the vast majority of our housing tenants are happy with the services we provide and we will continue to strive to further improve the housing services that we provide for customers.”