WEST Lothian Council will invest £100m in council housing investment proposals and rent over the next three years.
The proposed plans will see an investment of £17.8m in creating and acquiring new homes.
The “new build programme” will deliver 150 additional new council houses, including new builds and open market acquisition additions (where the council buys properties to create council homes).
Over the course of the investment programme, this will deliver an overall total of 427 new council houses.
This follows the approval of The Housing Capital Investment Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28, along with the Housing Revenue Account Budget covering the same period.
Approximately £33m is planned to improve and maintain existing housing, ensuring council homes continue to meet the Scottish Quality Housing Standard (SQHS).
Works include projects to deliver energy-efficient measures, central heating replacements, aids and adaptations, electrical testing and repair, and external wall insulation upgrades.
George Paul, Executive councillor for housing services, 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.”
A total of £17.9m will be invested in fourteen individual projects, including various upgrades and long-term maintenance work on structural elements such as roofs and external walls that are beyond repair.
The planned programme works, worth £31.6m, will cover various activities, including kitchen and bathroom replacements, window and door refurbishments, painting, and fencing programmes.
£638,000 will go towards general environmental improvements and external upgrading, including tenant-led street improvement projects.
Although many works are 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 also been approved as part of the Housing Revenue Account Budget.
Aiming to support ongoing investment in council housing infrastructure, enhance existing homes, and develop new affordable housing.
This decision was based on consultations with the tenants, as most respondents preferred a 3.5% annual rent increase.
All income from council housing rent is reinvested into council housing and tenant services.
