Plans to build new affordable housing in Twechar are moving forward, with construction on 15 energy-efficient homes expected to commence in August 2025.

East Dunbartonshire Council will develop the properties on derelict land adjacent to the Forth and Clyde Canal, at the northern entrance to the village.

This Twechar project, costing just under £8.8 million, marks the first site within the Council’s ambitious Affordable Housing Investment Programme to move beyond the pre-construction phase. The wider programme aims to deliver over 300 new homes across nine sites in East Dunbartonshire. Funding for the Twechar development includes contributions from the Council’s Five Year Housing Capital Investment Plan and the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme. The site has also benefited from a grant via the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, which helped cover remediation costs.

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A key feature of the new homes will be their construction to Passivhaus standards. This design approach and choice of construction materials are specifically tailored to maximise energy efficiency and significantly reduce heat demand once the properties are occupied. This will not only cut carbon emissions but also assist in addressing fuel poverty by lowering fuel bills for future tenants.

The developed design for the project went through a full tender exercise via the SCAPE Scotland Construction Framework, a recognised route for efficient public sector procurement in Scotland.

Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, confirmed the progress: "I'm pleased to confirm that work is progressing on the project to create 15 new homes in Twechar - the first part of an ambitious programme of affordable housing which will see over 300 new properties built in East Dunbartonshire. They will all meet Passivhaus standards, maximising energy efficiency and minimising heat demand - cutting carbon emissions whilst also helping to address fuel poverty by reducing fuel bills for our tenants."

The new homes are being created on land next to the Council's recently-completed Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre. Elected members received an update at a Council meeting on Thursday, 19 June 2025, and provided the necessary approval for contracts to be finalised.

Construction is targeted for completion in September 2026.