A £100 million ten-year plan to transform the quality of council housing in eight areas across Renfrewshire has been given the green light.
Renfrewshire Council said that the programme aims to create modern, high quality, energy-efficient and affordable housing across the constituency.
It will see a mix of investment to improve existing properties and common areas around them, with potential demolition and 500 new social-rented builds.
The eight areas earmarked for works are: Auchentorlie Quadrant/Seedhill Road, Howard Street area, Waverley Road, Thrushcraigs area, Ferguslie/Broomlands area, Springbank Road area (all Paisley), Moorpark (Renfrew) and the Howwood Road area (Johnstone).
In 2020, council housing staff carried out a consultation with affected residents, tenants and owners over several months to capture their views on the initial plans – with feedback since analysed and published.
Overall, 72% of tenants who responded broadly agreed with the plans. In four of the areas, the plans have now been changed in line with resident feedback. In the other four, the ‘vast majority’ of residents confirmed they were happy for the original plans to be delivered.
Residents were also asked for their views on their neighbourhood as a place to live. The council said that feedback will be used to help develop a neighbourhood plan for each area which will consider wider issues such as health and wellbeing, travel, outdoor areas, and access to services.
Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s communities, housing and planning board, councillor Marie McGurk, said, “These updated proposals set out a hugely ambitious, positive and forward-thinking vision for the future of council housing in Renfrewshire and we are delighted members have agreed to proceed with them. The work will transform the look and quality of council housing and the common areas around them, while making them more energy-efficient, reducing fuel bills for residents, and contributing to the area’s wider climate-change targets.
“But what sets this programme apart is that it’s about so much more than investing in bricks and mortar – it’s about working with residents to consider all the factors that help make an area a great place to live, and work with them to create neighbourhoods they can be proud of.”
