Local SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North & West Derek Mackay, has welcomed the Scottish Government’s investment in affordable housing in Renfrewshire, with new council housing planned for Paisley and affordable housing from Sanctuary Housing Association planned for Gallowhill, Paisley.

The results of the Scottish Government’s Innovation and Investment Fund for affordable housing have been announced, with Renfrewshire Council receiving £1.1million for building 37 new amenity and family homes in the Blackhall area of Paisley, at the site of the former Castle House care home on Barrhead Road.  

This site is very well located, close to Paisley town centre, close to local amenities and on a main transport link.  Council housing would complement and consolidate recent investment in the area (a new care home built by the Council, new homes for social rent recently built by Williamsburgh Housing Association, external improvements to the local community centre, a small newbuild development by the Council for people with learning disabilities).  Given its location, the site is also particularly suitable to include some housing which is specially designed for older people.  The development will include 37 new homes for social rent – 22 general needs terraced houses and 15 ‘grouped amenity’ properties for older people. It is hoped development would start by March 2012.

The successful bid by Sanctuary Housing Association is for 71 properties at Dundonald Road in Gallowhill, Paisley.  The Scottish Government has agreed to contribute almost £2.8million to this development.

Derek Mackay MSP said:

“This is excellent news for Renfrewshire, with new affordable housing from Sanctuary Housing Association but also – for the first time in years – new council houses being built.

“Housing remains one of the most common issues which my constituency office deals with and this announcement will help to safeguard jobs, support the construction industry and keep the Scottish economy moving. The fact that the recession has had such an impact on private sector house building, makes us all the more determined to do what we can to stimulate further house building activity in the months ahead.”

Cllr Kenny MacLaren – Convener of Housing for Renfrewshire Council – added: 

“Initially the focus of SNP led Renfrewshire Council was to improve all our properties to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard but when the latest Government funding plans were announced we realised there was a potential for the council to bid for new housing.”