Minister for local government, housing and planning, Kevin Stewart, visited Clydebank this week to officially open new social housing developments by West Dunbartonshire Council and Clydebank Housing Association.

The developments, which highlight the significant partnership working between the two organisations, have brought 84 homes to the area through the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Programme.

The council’s development on Second Avenue/Singer Street consists of 40 properties of mixed size and type including townhouses, designed in-house by the council and built by CCG.

Clydebank Housing Association’s development saw 44 one and two-bedroom flats built by AS Homes on the site of the former La Scala Cinema on Graham Avenue including 4 two-bedroom wheelchair flats. Both developments meet West Dunbartonshire Council’s Design Standard and meet Silver Standard for Energy Efficiency.

With currently 800 applicants on Clydebank Housing Association’s waiting list and 3,810 on West Dunbartonshire Council’s waiting list these homes were a much needed addition to housing stock in the area. Almost half of the lets made by the housing association were provided to homeless persons through the council, which assists in alleviating homelessness.

This is the first new housing development for Clydebank Housing Association since 2009 and the first in Clydebank for West Dunbartonshire Council since 2014.

The minister met with council tenant Ms Monaghan, whose circumstances had been greatly improved by the move into a 4-bedroom townhouse, and Clydebank Housing Association tenant Miss McGonagle, who has benefitted significantly by a life changing move into a 2-bedroom wheelchair-adapted property.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “I’m delighted to officially open these two new housing developments, supported by more than £5.5 million of Scottish Government funding. They will provide affordable, good quality social rented housing in the Clydebank area. The Scottish Government very much values the work of community based housing associations and the powerful impact of partnership working.”

Kimberley Tennant, chairperson of Clydebank Housing Association, said: “It was fantastic that the Minister took the time to stop off at our new build developments so he can see at first hand the difference Scottish Government funding has made to our area and to people’s lives. We are delighted with the final product and hope tenants will have many happy years in their new homes and benefit from the high standards of energy efficiency measures and design.”

Councillor Diane Docherty, convener of housing and communities, added: “As a council we are committed to working with our partners to deliver quality housing in West Dunbartonshire. I’m delighted to see the completion of this project which shows our strong commitment to delivering on our ambitious programme to build 1000 energy efficient, affordable and high-quality new homes in West Dunbartonshire by March 2021.”

Pat Kelly, chairman of AS Homes (Scotland) Ltd, said: “We are very proud of the La Scala Apartments which are generously sized, offer broadband internet access as standard and are extremely energy efficient. I have no doubt that the development will act as a catalyst for the continued regeneration of Clydebank.”

Clydebank Housing Association’s £5.1m development was a design and build partnership with AS Homes (Scotland) Ltd with funding of £3.17m from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Programme, together with private finance of £2m from CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) Bank. The council was provided with £2.36m from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Programme towards their £4.8m development.