Latest on new homes for rent project

North Lanarkshire Council chiefs have updated their plans to deliver 5000 new rented homes by 2035.

In her report to membersofthe council’s Housing and Regeneration Committee, NLC’s Head of Planning Pamela Humphries stated that to date 833 new build houseshavebeen completed with a further 339 homes under construction.

In addition, 494 homeshavebeen purchased through the Buy Back schemes.

Ms Humphries states in the report:“To ensure an adequate supply of sites for the new build programme, potential council owned sites continue to be evaluated for their suitability for inclusion within the programme.

“The cost of constructing or purchasing these homes will be contained within the overall budget for the newbuildprogramme within the Housing Revenue Account.

“There is a grant from the Scottish Governmenttowards the cost of the new homes which is currently £59,000 per unit.

“Thenewhomesare built to higher energy efficiency and sustainability standards, which helps to reduce future carbon emissions from the properties.

“This is done via a fabric first approach to development, while incorporating renewable technologies where appropriate.”

New sites identified for regeneration include the former Methodist Church in Caledonian Road, WishawandCoshneuk Road in Stepps.

Plans which have already been approved for housing but are in the design stage include the former MotherwellTown Hall, the former Petersburn Primary in Airdrie and Kildonan Street in Wishaw, which will be hometo49newhouses.