West Dunbartonshire Council has voted in favour of building new 'affordable' housing to a higher design standard than anywhere else in Scotland.

A 'stringent' criteria of energy efficiency, kitchen and bathroom design is to be introduced by the council, including accessibility in order to drive up the quality of future housing in the area.

The new 'West Dunbartonshire Design Standard' will apply to all new build projects supported by the Scottish Government's 'Affordable' Housing Supply Programme.

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Higher standards will be implemented in external layouts and increase space standards for halls and passages.

In addition, the Scottish Government will provide £4,000 of additional funding due to the new properties releasing less carbon dioxide than the average home and using less energy to heat rooms and water supply.

The first project to meet the new standards are the 37 completed homes at Hillstreet Square in Brucehill, Dumbarton.

Work on the next project at Second Avenue in Clydebank is to begin early next year, with an additional £2.1m already secured from the Scottish Government.

Councillor Lawrence O'Neill said: "We have already seen the quality of housing which has been achieved at Hillstreet Square in Brucehill and I'm looking forward to work getting underway in Clydebank next year. Not only will this design standard create homes that residents can be proud of, but the energy efficiencies they offer will also see tenants saving substantial amounts of money on their household bills."

(LM/CD)