Green light for£6m affordablehomes scheme

The scheme is part of a drive to ease the area’s housing crisis, as all the homes will be for social rent.

The new cottage flats, houses and bungalow will go on site in spring next year, and will be ready to be occupied roughly a year later.

They will be built on the site of the former Kildrum Nursery Centre in Afton Road, where Lovell will build 16 cottage flats, and the site of the former Cedar Road Nursery, where it will create two house, 12 cottage flats and a bungalow.

Farther afield, bungalows and cottage flats will built for senior citizens in Harthill as part of the same deal.

All of the homes are promised to be “extremely” energy efficient and also disability-friendly.

Housing and social work services convener Councillor Sam Love said: “The appointment of Lovell to construct these new homes marks another important milestone in our Building for the Future Programme.

“It has already seen the completion of nearly 300 new homes across North Lanarkshire, with many more on site or planned over the coming years.”

Lovell regional director Alan Taylor said: “There is a real need locally for the new high-quality new social homes which these developments are set to provide.

“The construction will enable us to deliver a number of valuable training and job opportunities for local people, which is an important part of our commitment to help communities thrive.”

Lovell, which is also building 30 new council homes in Blackwood, is said to be a leading provider of affordable housing, with expertise in new-build, regeneration, refurbishment and planned maintenance services.