Sod cutting ceremonies have taken place in New Stevenston and Cumbernauld to signal the start of the development of new homes for North Lanarkshire Council.

Twenty new homes will be delivered at Brown Road in Cumbernauld while the New Stevenston Primary School site at Clydesdale Street will see 15 new houses.

Both developments include a mix of cottage flats, family homes and two wheelchair adapted properties and form part of the council’s new NL Homes house building programme which will see 2,150 homes built by 2027.

Robertson Partnership Homes will deliver both developments with the New Stevenston homes expected to be completed by May 2018 and the Cumbernauld site due the following month.

Convener of enterprise and housing, Councillor Allan Graham, cut the first sod at both sites and was joined by vice convener of enterprise and housing, Olivia Carson; Des Murray, assistant chief executive, enterprise and housing resources at North Lanarkshire Council; Malcolm Macleod, managing director at Robertson Partnership Homes; together with other representatives from the council and Robertson Partnership Homes.

Councillor Graham said: “I’m delighted to be part of this fantastic NL Homes programme delivering new, affordable council houses across North Lanarkshire. Not only do these developments provide much needed homes for local people but they also provide regeneration opportunities on a number of vacant sites within the council area.”

Malcolm MacLeod said: “This housing development is one of eight projects Robertson is delivering in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council. Once complete, these homes will bolster the region’s housing portfolio, providing affordable living spaces for local people. We are proud to be part of such a transformational investment.”

Des Murray added: “All of our new homes are built with energy efficiency in mind, achieving at least a ‘good’ eco rating to help minimise running costs for tenant. In addition, they meet Housing for Varying Needs specification which means homes are more accessible to adapt to tenants’ mobility needs. The homes are also ‘Secured by Design’ accredited, which involves Police Scotland architectural liaison officers having input into the layout and designs to ensure we build safe and secure environments.

“We’re proud of our new build homes and I’m confident we will continue to make significant progress to improve local communities and the lives of our tenants.”

A contribution is received from the Scottish Government towards the development costs at each site.