More than 100 new council houses have been provided across North Lanarkshire through the local authority’s property purchasing schemes during the past year.
Officials exceeded their target for 2020/21 by acquiring 106 houses through both the empty homes initiative, buying 47 long-term vacant homes, and the open market project, which added 59 properties located in high-demand areas.
The largest number of homes to be added to the council’s stock through the scheme was in Airdrie, where 25 were purchased, followed by neighbouring Coatbridge with 24.
A total of 20 properties were purchased in Wishaw, plus 10 each in Bellshill and Shotts, five in each of Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Motherwell, plus single properties in Moodiesburn and Viewpark.
North Lanarkshire has spent £8.65m on the acquisitions and repairs during the past year, with the help of £3m in Scottish Government grant funding; while a further £790,000 has been committed to another 17 properties which are currently at the conveyancing stage.
Development officer Catriona Arbuckle Lanarkshire Live : “COVID has proven very challenging as we’ve looked to boost our affordable housing stock, so we’re delighted to have exceeded our target of home purchases.
“We’re grateful to all the owners who have helped us buy their properties during this period; many homeowners have shown an interest in selling their properties despite the uncertainties everyone has faced during the coronavirus crisis.
“The open market scheme allows us to increase the number of good quality homes for rent in our towns and villages, in places people and families want to live.
“Our development team identify properties in areas of high demand which would enhance our current stock and represent good value for money.
“It also means we can buy properties where the purchase will allow the council to take complete, or majority ownership of blocks of flats making communal repairs much easier to complete.”
The empty homes scheme was set up in 2013 to buy vacant properties including “those that were falling into disrepair or those blighting local communities,” with the open market scheme being added five years later.
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