MSP WELCOMES ALLOCATION OF £2.625M FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COUNCIL HOUSES IN NORTH LANARKSHIRE
SNP MSP John Wilson has welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government to allocate £2.625 million to North Lanarkshire Council which will provide 105 new built Council houses to rent throughout North Lanarkshire.
This news follows an earlier investment of £1.95 million to build 78 new council properties in North Lanarkshire, bringing the total investment throughout North Lanarkshire in 2009 to £4.575m for the building of 183 new council houses for rent.
The Scottish Government has allocated a further £24 million to help 20 councils build houses for rent. This latest round of grants will provide an extra 954 homes, taking the total to nearly 2,300 new houses across 22 local authorities.
The government’s total financial allocation for new council homes this year now stands at almost £50 million and is estimated to support 3,000 jobs.
Official figures show that the number of housing association and local authority homes completed in Scotland in 2008-09 reached the highest level since the mid 1990s.
John Wilson MSP, said: “The allocation of £2.625 million to build 105 new council homes for North Lanarkshire is very welcome news and will go some way to protect and create jobs in the construction sector as well as provide much needed social housing in what are difficult economic times.
“Increasing council house building will add to the record number of affordable homes being built across Scotland this year, which helps keep the economy moving by safeguarding jobs and supporting the construction industry.
“This funding allows Local Authorities to continue to build houses for social rent at a time where demand for social rented housing is at an increase and as such will help towards achieving the homelessness target in 2012”
Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive, Homes for Scotland, said:
“With the UK Government’s Pre-Budget Report failing to include any specific measures to help maintain activity within our fragile housing industry, today’s announcement is welcome news which will keep vital skills and trades employed in our sector and help retain capacity.”