West Lothian Housing Partnership starts work on 34 new homes
West Lothian Housing Partnership (WLHP) is increasing the supply of affordable housing across the region by starting work on 34 new homes on two sites.
WLHP is building 20 new homes for social rent in the latest phase of the £1 billion transformation of Winchburgh, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
The homes are part of the redevelopment of Winchburgh which will see the village transformed over the next 15 years, with hundreds more new homes, new schools and improved transport links, as well as leisure facilities and amenities. The 20 new homes should be ready by the end of 2022.
WLHP built 55 homes for social rent in Winchburgh in 2019, while West Lothian Council has also completed 41 new homes there.
Meanwhile, WLHP has also started building 14 affordable homes in Blackness Road, Linlithgow, at the site of CALA Homes’ Queenswood development.
The homes will help meet the very high demand for affordable homes in Linlithgow, the third largest town in West Lothian after Livingston and Bathgate.
The development – made up of eight homes for social rent and six for mid-market rent – is also expected to be ready by the end of 2022.
WLHP is part of Wheatley Group, the UK’s biggest developer of homes for social rent for the past four years.
John M Hill, chair of WLHP, said: “These new homes on two sites will help meet the high demand for affordable housing across West Lothian.
“We’re delighted to be working with our partners, including West Lothian Council and the Scottish Government, in building homes and communities people are proud to live in.”
George Paul, West Lothian Council’s executive councillor for services for the community, added: “The council is committed to working alongside partners such as WLHP and Wheatley to support the delivery of new, high-quality affordable homes across West Lothian.
“These new developments from WLHP are a welcome boost to social housing in West Lothian and to the communities in which they are situated.”
WLHP’s £2.8 million development in Winchburgh – made up of eight flats and 12 houses – is part-funded by a Scottish Government grant of £1.6m and is being built by Barratt Homes.
Alison Condie, managing director of Barratt Homes East Scotland, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working in partnership with WLHP at Caisteal Gardens, Winchburgh, helping with the delivery of much needed affordable housing in the region.
“These high-quality homes will be enhanced further by improved transport links, employment opportunities, and new outdoor spaces in the historic village.”
The £1.9m development in Linlithgow is being built with the help of Scottish Government grant of £0.9m and the contractor there is CALA Homes.
Alasdair Hughes, land manager with CALA Homes (East), commented: “We’re thrilled to be delivering a range of affordable homes that will blend seamlessly into our Queenswood development in Linlithgow.
“These mixed tenure homes will have access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and be built with the latest materials to reduce energy usage.”
In the past year, WLHP has built 91 new homes for social rent, including 85 at Barracks View in Whitburn, and six at Tulloch Lane, Livingston.
Work is continuing on 146 new homes at Almondvale in Livingston and another 42 homes at Jarvey Street, Bathgate.
WLHP has also announced plans for another 85 affordable homes to be built in Winchburgh as part of the village’s transformation.