The sites could provide over 400 new homes and are located in Burnhall Place/Mossburn Street, Wishaw, McArthur Avenue, Glenmavis, Laburnum Road, Viewpark, former Columba High School in Coatbridge, Northburn Place, Airdrie and Dykehead Road in Airdrie.

They will form part of the council’s pledged target of 5,000 new affordable homes by 2035.

The biggest new housebuilding programme in a generation sits firmly at the heart of the council’s long-term economic regeneration ‘Ambition’ plan, which aims to create a framework to increase investment and jobs, build a connected infrastructure and revitalise town centres and communities.

Leader of the council, Cllr Jim Logue, said: “These additional sites for proposed new homes greatly moves on our ambitious plans to transform communities.

“We’re building new roads, schools and housing developments alongside inspirational plans to revitalise our town centres. Investment in our industrial and commercial sites has increased with more than 2 million square feet of industrial space sold or let in North Lanarkshire, with property sales totalling £24 million.

“Between 1998 and 2016, North Lanarkshire’s economy has been the strongest and fastest growing in Scotland, with the highest level of Gross Value Added growth per head. This economic and business growth is helping to create jobs, hope and aspirations for the people in our communities.

“Things are moving at a pace and our communities are at the centre of this vision, to make North Lanarkshire a desirable place to live, learn, work, invest and visit.”

Councillor Olivia Carson, vice convener of enterprise and housing committee, added: “Building homes and regenerating our town centres fits with our economic regeneration strategy. To date we’ve built almost 600 new homes with a further 140 under construction and plans are being developed for a further 450, so we’re making real progress in delivering new, modern, affordable homes for our local communities. In addition, we’ve also bought back an additional 147 homes through buy-back schemes and are continuing to look at innovative ways of ensuring we increase the supply of affordable accommodation across the area.

“Our housing plans include the potential demolition of all of our multi-storey flats over the next 20 years and together with our new-build proposals, sit firmly in the council’s strategy to provide better homes, regenerate town centres and create jobs in our communities.”