More than £154 million is to be invested in West Lothian's council housing over the next five years.

At a meeting earlier this week, the council approved plans to boost its housing stock, with over £79m set aside to increase housing supply.

Features include completing the current new build programme of 1,000 houses, in addition to committing towards building a further 250 new homes. Another 90 Open Market Acquisitions will also be incorporated into the programme, as the council continues to look at expanding the housing supply and deliver 3,000 new houses by 2022.

With £75m allocated to improving the current housing stock, projects will include investment in energy efficiency measures and replacement of central heating systems, as well as planned maintenance programmes including electrical testing and repairs along with painting fencing work.

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Planned work will continue on environmental programmes and external upgrading projects, including tenant led street improvements projects. Major refurbishments include the completion of regeneration work at the Bathville flats in Armadale as well as the continuation of roof, render, stair and balcony works at the Lochs Scheme in Whitburn.

Elsewhere, there will be improved investment in external wall insulation work in council houses and a programme of central heating upgrades will take place to ensure all properties are compliant with Scotland's Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) standards by December 2020. In addition, rents will rise 3% per annum for council homes and garages.

Cllr George Paul said: "West Lothian Council is committed to providing new, affordable, high quality council homes in West Lothian.

"A significant amount of investment is going towards the completion of 1,000 new council homes across all ward areas as part of our existing, new build programme with a new commitment to deliver a further 250 homes in the years ahead.

"As well as providing new council homes, there will be a renewed focus on the maintenance and refurbishment of properties, to continue to maintain the Scottish Quality Housing Standard."

(LM)