New homes are a big boost

Another 34 affordable homes are being built in West Lothian as part of a drive to boost social housing.

West Lothian Housing Partnership ( WLHP) is building 20 new homes for social rent in the latest phase of the £ 1 billion transformation of Winchburgh, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The homes are part of the redevelopment of Winchburgh which will see the village transformed over the next 15 years, with hundreds more new homes, new schools and improved transport links, as well as leisure facilities and amenities. The 20 new homes should be ready by the end of 2022.

WLHP built 55 homes for social rent in Winchburgh in 2019, while West Lothian Council has also completed 41 new homes there.

Meanwhile, WLHP has also started building 14 affordable homes in Blackness Road, L i n l i t h g ow, at the site of CALA Homes’ Queenswood development.

The homes will help meet the very high demand for affordable homes in Linlithgow, the third largest town in West Lothian after Livingston and Bathgate.

The development – made up of eight homes for social rent and six for mid-market rent – is also expected to be ready by the end of 2022.

WLHP is part of Wheatley Group, the UK’s biggest developer of homes for social rent for the past four years.

John M Hill, chair of WLHP, said: “These new homes on two sites will help meet the high demand for affordable housing across West Lothian.

“We’re delighted to be working with our partners, including West Lothian Council and the Scottish Government, in building homes and communities people are proud to live in.”

George Paul, West Lothian Council’s executive councillor for services for the community, added: “The council is committed to working alongside partners such as WLHP and Wheatley to support the delivery of new, highquality affordable homes across West Lothian.

“These new development s f rom WLHP are a welcome boost to social housing in West Lothian and to the communities in which they are situated.”