A ceremony to mark the beginning of construction work at Govanhill Housing Association’s development at the corner of Victoria Road and Butterbiggins Road was attended by the Glasgow Southside MSP on Friday along with other elected representatives for the area.

The 42-home scheme will provide homes with affordable rents to help meet the growing demand for housing in the area.

The Association’s vice chairperson, Annie Macfarlane, said: “This development, which is part of our overall regeneration strategy for Govanhill, will provide much-needed social housing for people in the community.

“It involves significant investment in a key site, which has been vacant for a considerable time.

“Other initiatives to regenerate the area and provide affordable homes include the pilot South-West Govanhill Property Acquisition and Repair Programme, which met its two-year target to buy around 80 properties after just one year.

“The aim of that programme, which complements our work on new developments, is to buy, repair, let and then manage flats in four tenement blocks that include some of Govanhill’s poorest quality housing.”

Designed by Glasgow-based Collective Architecture, the Victoria/Butterbiggins development involves a seven-storey corner building that descends into shorter blocks. It will include two and three bedroom family flats, as well as a number of larger family homes and amenity flats for elderly people, with wheelchair access for some.

The project, which is supported by £3.25m grant funding from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government, is expected to be completed by January 2018. The site was occupied by a cinema until 1986 and also a petrol station, more recently being used as a public art space.

Glasgow Southside MSP Nicola Sturgeon, who cut the first turf at the site, said: “I’m delighted to see this new development in Govanhill, providing much-needed housing in an area of high demand. I look forward to coming back to see the development when it is completed.”

Councillor Soryia Siddique, Glasgow City Council’s executive member for communities and citizens, said: “The council is delighted to see new social housing being developed in Govanhill. We are very pleased to be working with Govanhill Housing Association and the Scottish Government to ensure the demand for social housing in Govanhill is being met.

“We have been working very closely with our partners in the area to invest and improve Govanhill over a number of years. I am sure these new homes will be highly desirable once complete and prove to be a great asset to the local community.”

Allan Callaghan, managing director of construction company Cruden Buildings and Renewals Limited, said: “We are delighted to work with Govanhill Housing Association to deliver this landmark housing development at Govanhill’s vibrant Victoria Road.

“We are building high-quality, spacious and modern flats and houses which will meet Silver Standard energy efficiency levels – providing residents with homes that have much cheaper energy bills and fewer carbon emissions. Importantly, as with all of our developments, we will be working with local suppliers to directly benefit the local community.”