The Housing Capital Investment Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28 has been approved alongside the approval of the Housing Revenue Account Budget covering the same period.

The proposed plans will see an investment of £17.8m towards the creation and acquisition of new homes. The new build programme will deliver a further 150 additional new council houses, including both new build and open market acquisition additions (where the council buys properties to create council homes). This will deliver an overall total of 427 new council houses over the course of the investment programme.

Approximately, £33m is planned to be invested to improve and maintain existing housing, ensuring council homes continue to meet the Scottish Quality Housing Standard (SQHS). Works include projects to deliver energy efficiency measures, central heating replacements, aids and adaptations, electrical testing and repair and external wall insulation upgrades.

A total of £17.9m is to be invested in 14 individual projects which includes a variety of upgrades consisting of long-term maintenance work, where structural elements such as roof and external walls are beyond repair.

Planned programme works of £31.6m will take place - covering a broad range of activities, including kitchens and bathroom replacements, window and door refurbishments, painting and fencing programmes and £638,000, will go towards general environmental improvements and external upgrading, including tenant led street improvement projects. Although many works are on a small scale, these projects can have a substantial impact on local amenities and will be informed by council tenants and local communities.

An annual rent increase of 3.5% each year from 2025/26 to 2027/28 has been approved as part of the Housing Revenue Account Budget. The is designed to help ensure continued investment in council housing infrastructure, improving existing homes and creating new affordable homes.

This decision has been informed following consultation with the tenants with the majority of those that responded expressing a preference for a 3.5% per annum rent increase. All income generated via council housing rent is reinvested in council housing and services for tenants.

Executive councillor for housing services George Paul said: “It is important to stress that every penny of income from council rent collections goes towards enhancing homes for our tenants and maintaining and improving the quality of council homes remains a key priority for the council.

“We also remain committed to the delivery of new high-quality affordable housing, with funds allocated towards increasing the social housing stock in areas of high demand in West Lothian.”