Plans to build 1000 new houses halted amid Covid-19 crisis

Plans to build 1000 new council houses in South Lanarkshire by 2022 could be scuppered by coronavirus.

Construction has ground to a halt on building sites across the country amid lockdown and social distancing restrictions while start dates for new projects are being pushed back.

A pause has been put on seven South Lanarkshire sites which had started building houses for the council in East Kilbride, Biggar, Hamilton, Fernegair, Law and two in Cambuslang.

Discussions are ongoing regarding a further eight sites earmarked for social housing including Shields Road in East Kilbride which has just had planning permission granted for 67 homes, as well as sites in Blantyre, Cambuslang and Uddingston.

Four other sites where discussion are at an early and commercially-sensitive stage cannot be disclosed by the council.

The council’s Home+ programme had been due to deliver 1000 new affordable homes in the next two years as part of Scottish Government plans to build 50,000 across the country.

Construction will not be able to restart until it’s safe to do so and South Lanarkshire Council have said they are in communication with the Scottish Government over the issue.

Councillor Josh Wilson, chair of housing and technical resources, said: “The council continue to work closely with partners in the development sector, including private house builders, to ensure delivery of high quality affordable housing in areas where people want to live.

“Construction work had started on seven sites across South Lanarkshire to assist in delivery of the council’s Home+ programme, with discussions ongoing in relation to a further eight sites.

“The focus of our programme has always been and remains on providing more affordable homes in communities by March 2021 and to assist in meeting the 50,000 affordable housing target set by the Scottish Government.

“However, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, all on site work has stopped and will only commence when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

“We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government on this and once housebuilding can safely resume, the position will be clearer about the full effect the lockdown has had on the timing of the delivery of our new homes.”