Falkirk and Maddiston are to receive 80 new homes for social rent, following a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee.

The homes are to be built over the next 15 months at Merchiston Road in Falkirk, on the site of the former St Mungo’s High School, and at Parkhall Drive in Maddiston, on the site of the former primary school.

Work started in December on the Falkirk site, while construction is due to begin later this month at Maddiston.

The two projects, costing approximately £8m in total, are expected to be completed by April 2014.

The Falkirk project will provide 40 homes, comprising 36 two and three bedroom flats and including 14 ground floor, fully accessible homes.

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In Maddiston, the project will provide 40 homes, comprising 32 two and three bedroom flats and again including 14 ground floor, fully accessible homes.

Councillor Craig Martin, Convener of Policy and Resources said: "There is a lack of affordable social housing for rent across Falkirk, however, with these and other similar building programmes we are providing new properties that will be eagerly sought after."

Meanwhile, £2m is being invested in improving Falkirk Council’s existing housing stock.

The Policy and Resources Committee also approved proposals to undertake gas heating replacements costing £1.1m and new roofing and roughcasting work totalling over £776,000.

610 properties in the Falkirk Council will benefit from the planned work.

Mr Martin said: "This is an extremely significant investment that will improve properties throughout the whole Falkirk Council area. It will also help towards reaching the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) target set for 2015."

(IT)