West Lothian Council is to provide homes with significant benefits to the local economy including employment opportunities as well as providing much needed quality social housing for rent.

Nearly half of the 600 new homes could be built in the Broxburn area to help the local area recover following the closure of the Hall's of Broxburn plant.

At a meeting of the Council Executive eight sites were identified as potential sites for the new council homes. Further site checks and investigations will now be undertaken by West Lothian Council before the locations for the new homes are finally agreed.

However, the preliminary sites identified in the report are:

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•80 units at Wester Inch, Bathgate

•250 units at Kirkhill, Broxburn

•30 units as part of the Eastfield Recreation Ground, Fauldhouse

•80 units at the former Lammermuir House and Car Parks, Owen Square, Livingston

•15 units at the Old Schoool and Community Centre, Pumpherston

•30 units at the Millbank Depot Site, East Calder

•100 units at the Redhouse West HBb5, Blackburn

•18 units at the Old Broxburn School Site

The council recently announced plans to build a minimum of 1,000 new council homes over the next five years to support the council's commitment to deliver high quality new affordable housing in West Lothian. The 600 homes mark the first phase of that build programme.

Council Leader John McGinty said: "Thousands of residents will benefit from this announcement today which will result in at least 600 new council homes being built across West Lothian.

"This is about more than simply bricks and cement; it's about building homes to meet the aspirations of future generations.

"Council houses are in short supply across the country and West Lothian is no different. We have committed to building 1,000 new council homes over the next five years and this is a significant step forward. The aim is to build new council houses in every council ward area and work is underway to identify appropriate sites."

(CD)