Housing in Renfrewshire set for £112million investment

The multi-million pound plan will invest £20.40million in 2021/22, £42.83million in 2022/23 and £49.75million in 2023/24 in a range of programmes which will improve Council housing, create new-build developments, and ensure all Council homes in Renfrewshire meet both the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.

The first year of the programme includes plans to build 101 new homes in Tannahill in Ferguslie, Paisley and 39 houses in Auchengreoch Road, South West Johnstone, with work expected to begin on both projects shortly.

Further developments are planned for Gallowhill and Foxbar, where around 100 new homes will be built in total. Provision is also included for additional new-build projects at a later stage of the programme.

This investment builds on the development of 95 homes in Johnstone Castle and 80 houses in Bishopton. Both developments were delayed due to Covid-19, but Bishopton is now finished and Johnstone Castle is nearing completion.

The plan also includes funding for planned investment programmes which will focus on improving the external fabric of Council homes, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, improved electrical wiring and heating systems, investment in laundrettes and disabled adaptations, and improvements to multi-storey flats and sheltered housing.

Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms will also be upgraded as part of a programme to ensure they meet the Scottish Government’s new standards which come into effect in February 2022.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “This investment reinforces our commitment to provide high-quality, affordable, energy-efficient housing that will make people want to come and live and work in Renfrewshire.

“The plan will continue our investment in improving our existing council housing while also creating new-build developments which meet modern-day needs and expectations.

“We are committed to helping Renfrewshire thrive as we emerge from this pandemic and this multi-million investment will help us do that by transforming our existing council homes and supporting our regeneration plans for the region.”

The investment plan was approved at a special Budget meeting today where councillors also agreed to a 1.5% increase in council housing rent following a consultation with tenants.

The plan’s approval follows the announcement of the council’s Regeneration and Renewal Plan in December 2020, which will invest at least £100million in council housing over the next 10 years and create 300 new homes in Renfrewshire during its first phase.

For more information on housing in Renfrewshire, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/housing.