Housing officers have completed the buy-back of 45 ex-council houses in Armadale.
The buy-back programme has been running in the town for the last three years - with 14 bought this financial year.
Housing manager, Lorraine Donnelly, told a meeting of the Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee that it had made it easier for the service to house larger families in that some of the stock bought back into council ownership was of the more traditional larger size.
“Although 45 does seem quite high, we have also been able to use them for decants during renovation work.” she said.
A buy-back was not a brand new home “but sometimes that can be a positive.”
Councillor Andrew McGuire, chairing the committee asked: “Do you think the buy-backs have been a success?”
Mrs Donnelly added: “At the end of the day it’s more stock for us. It’s adding to our housing stock which can only be a good thing.”
West Lothian Council agreed in October 2018 to spend £2.6m on buy-backs in Armadale to replace 26 new homes which had been planned for Nelson Park.
House-builder Lovell had withdrawn from a contract to build on the site and the council decided that the best option to fill that gaps was to buy-back ex-council homes from owners who wished to sell.
Housing officers said at the time that this was the most practical way to provide a range in size of accommodation.
