The Scottish Government has announced a nationwide development plan for redundant public sector sites.

Former publicly-owned land and buildings across Scotland, including hospitals, prisons and police stations, are to be redeveloped to allow hundred of 'affordable' homes to be built.

The Scottish Government will work closely with public sector partners on the following projects:

• Edinburgh - £34.2m redevelopment of the former Eastern General Hospital will provide 291 homes, 191 by the Hillcrest Group and 100 by Dunedin Canmore Housing and Bield Housing and Care.

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• Perth and Kinross - 62 new homes are nearing completion on land previously owned by the UK Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

• Aberdeen – around 120 homes will be built on the site of the former Craiginches Prison.

• Falkirk – a development of 18 new council homes is starting on the site of a former police station in Stenhousemuir.

• Highland – around 25 homes are to be built at former NHS sites in Moray and Fort William, and six homes are being built in Inverness, Caol near Fort William, and Glencoe using former Police Scotland property.

During a visit to the former Eastern General Hospital site, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said: "Vacant land and property which was previously in public sector ownership – such as by NHS Scotland and Police Scotland – is being used to add to the provision of affordable housing across Scotland.

"The redevelopment of the former Eastern General Hospital site is an excellent example of what can be realised when partners share a vision of what can be achieved for the benefit of the local community."

(LM)