Defence Online

Renfrewshire Council has unveiled a five-year plan to target £34 million in grant funding into projects which will deliver more than 700 affordable homes.The draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2017/18 – 2021/22 will be presented to Renfrewshire Council’s housing and community safety (HACS) board today. Board members are expected to give the green light for a four week consultation on the draft plan. If approved the public, housing associations, developers and other key partners will be asked for their views on the proposals.Copies of the draft plan will then be sent to local tenants’ and residents’ associations and the 15 housing associations working in Renfrewshire. The plan will also be made available to the public through the council’s website.The final plan will be published by the end of the year as part of the Local Housing Strategy. According to the local authority, the plan will result in a high-quality mixture of council and housing association properties in neighbourhoods where people want to live.Affordable housing includes a range of options for people who are looking for a home to rent or buy: new council homes for rent, housing association homes for rent, low cost home ownership/shared equity schemes and intermediate/mid-market rental.Since 2011/12, 842 homes have already been completed in Renfrewshire under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme. The draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan contains details of a range of projects which are: due to start on site soon, have recently been completed or are expected to be finished this year.Proposed projects over the next five years include:Bishopton Community Growth Area. Renfrewshire Council – Phase 1, 100 new council homes. Phase 2, 100 new housing association homes. Johnstone Castle. Renfrewshire Council – 100 new council ‘back and front door’ housesSmithhills Street, Paisley. LinkGroup – 24 flatsMilliken Road, Kilbarchan. Williamsburgh Housing Association – 18 one and two bedroomed flats for rentInchinnan Road, Renfrew. Sanctuary Scotland – 67 affordable homesWest End, Paisley. Sanctuary Scotland – redevelop Co-op site in Wellmeadow Street and regenerate Well Street areaOrchard Street/Causeyside Street, Paisley. Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Government and Paisley South Housing Association – Comprehensive Tenement Improvement scheme.The total number of affordable homes quoted, and the numbers listed in individual projects, may change once work starts on site. This is because ground conditions can affect how many homes can be built or may cause problems with installing utilities such as sewerage, water, gas and electricity supplies.