An official sod cutting ceremony has been held at a site in Clydebank where 40 new homes for social rent will be built.

The development at Singer Street and Second Avenue is part of West Dunbartonshire Council’s More Homes Better Homes programme which will see 1000 new affordable homes built between 2017 and 2022. The homes will be built by the council and its housing association partners.

The project at Singer Street and Second Avenue will cost £4.8 million and in total the council has allocated £43.2m for homes for social rent over the next five years. The 40 council homes are expected to be completed in early 2018.

Work is taking place at the same time as a project by Clydebank Housing Association, which is building 44 new homes directly adjacent to the council’s site.

Councillor David McBride, convener for housing and communities, cut the first sod with vice-convener, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, and they were joined by council officers and representatives from building contractors CCG Scotland.

Councillor McBride said: “It is a real privilege to be able to officially get the ball rolling on this new housing development for Clydebank. When the council pledged to build 1000 new affordable homes in the next five years, we knew it was an ambitious target and we are committed to making sure we deliver on that pledge. The houses will all be built to the Scottish Building Standards Silver Level of Sustainability, which means they are efficient homes designed to reduce energy bills and minimise impact on the environment.”

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill added: “This project will not only regenerate that part of Clydebank and give members of the community excellent new homes, it will also bring real benefits to local businesses who will welcome having new customers on their doorsteps. More Homes Better Homes is a great example of this council’s commitment to making West Dunbartonshire a better place for our residents and I look forward to seeing the end result of this project in Clydebank.”

The 40 homes will consist of four three-bedroom terraced houses; eight four-bedroom townhouses; one two-bedroom wheelchair-friendly bungalow; 10 one-bedroom lower flats; nine one-bedroom upper flats; five two-bedroom lower flats; two two-bedroom lower flats; and a one-bedroom end terraced house.

The council is holding a Drop-In information event about the new site on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, between 3.30pm and 7pm at Radnor Park Parish Church in Spencer Street, Clydebank.

The Drop-In is being held in partnership with Clydebank Housing Association and information will be available on the houses being built at both sites in Second Avenue/Singer Street.