Door Opens On New Council Houses

The first major council house development in Scotland for 20 years has been unveiled in Midlothian. The houses in Dalkeith are part of a £100m project to build 1,000 new homes.

Councillor Derek Milligan said it was a “great day” for the tenants. He said the council was “bucking the trend by building new council homes”. He added: “We’ll be providing superb quality accommodation for residents while making great inroads to reduce our council house waiting lists.”

Most council’s abandoned housing projects in the 1980s when the government introduced the right of tenants to buy their properties. In recent years much of Scotland’s existing council property has been transferred to ownership by housing associations.

In the new Midlothian development, six houses in Bill Russell Grove will be occupied by the end of March with a further 21 in mid-May. Work begins in Cameron Crescent, Bonnyrigg, on the next phase of 100 new council homes on Monday 12 March.

In the summer, work is planned to start on a further 55 units at Suttieslea Drive, Newtongrange; 64 units at Barleyknowe Crescent, Gorebridge and 44 units at Chester View and Stone Place, Mayfield. The units being built will be a variety of two, three and four bedroom houses and flats.

Minister for Communities Rhona Brankin said: “The Scottish Executive is committed to delivering high-quality housing to everyone who needs it. This is an innovative scheme that has the potential to deliver real benefits for local residents.”