New affordable housing projects in North Lanarkshire, backed by £8.5m of Scottish Government funding, are safeguarding more than 100 jobs in the construction industry.

Local housing associations - Cumbernauld Housing Partnership Ltd and Lanarkshire Housing Association Ltd - who are jointly contributing £4m, are building 99 new homes securing jobs for joiners, plumbers, electricians and bricklayers.

The two projects - in Cumbernauld and Bellshill - are benefiting from £1.5bn being invested in affordable housing by the Scottish Government over the next three years.

-- Advertisement --

Across Scotland, £675m will be spent to approve over 8,100 affordable homes for rent in 2009-10.

In North Lanarkshire, Housing Minister Alex Neil said: "This year we are investing significant funding in areas like North Lanarkshire to protect construction jobs and deliver homes that people can afford.

"At a time when Scotland's house building industry is facing the challenges presented by the economic downturn, these developments help bring job security for those employed in the industry."

North Lanarkshire Council's Depute Provost, Cllr Jim Robertson said: "These housing developments not only provide much needed affordable homes and help regenerate local communities, but they also support the construction industry and local jobs."

(GK/JM)