CLYDEBANK has been dubbed an “ideal location” for public sector workers to live due to its new top ten position of the most affordable places to set up home in the UK.

The town was ranked number 10 by the Halifax Key Worker Housing Review, which looks at housing affordability for those in the sector, including nurses, teachers and emergency service workers.

The report looked at 481 areas throughout the country to determine where the industry staff could afford to buy a home, with just 14 per cent of the locations being classed as affordable – a fall of 18 per cent since 2012.

Clydebank, which was joined by areas such as Kilwinning and Wishaw, was reported to have an average house prices to earnings ratio of 3.39, meaning the average cost of a home is 3.39 times workers’ annual gross full-time earnings.

The town’s MSP, Gil Paterson, said it isn’t just the area’s affordability that drives people to Clydebank, it is the appeal of the “very community spirited” area.

The SNP member added: “People here are very supportive of each other and Clydebank has got a lot going for it – a college that is very easy to get to, the world renowned heart hospital in the Golden Jubilee that is doing such good work.

“Things are going to get even better. Clydebank has many attributes.”

Provost William Hendrie echoed his comments, saying: “Clydebank is an ideal location for so many public sector workers. We’re close enough to Glasgow without being affected by inflated housing costs and there are many public sector employers in or near the town.

“With the recent opening of the new Clydebank Leisure Centre and the ambitious plans being laid for the regeneration of Queens Quay, this is a desirable place to live for people from all walks of life.”

“Police officers, nurses, teachers and other public sector workers are the very backbone of society and it’s vital they are able to live somewhere that is safe, welcoming and affordable. Clydebank ticks all of those boxes.”

West of Scotland MSP Mary Fee said housing should be affordable for public sector workers, due to the restrictive pay cap.

The Labour politician said: “While the public sector pay cap punishes our hard working police officers, paramedics and others, it is vital that housing is affordable. Public sector employees deserve a better deal than what’s being offered and building more houses across the country will help those across Scotland, regardless of employment.”

Halifax reports the fall since 2012 follows house prices outpacing the growth of income for public sector workers. But the firm said despite the deterioration, the situation has improved on this time a decade ago when just six per cent of towns studied were classed as affordable.

Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, added: “Nationally, there have been improvements in the ability of key public sector workers to purchase their own home compared to 2007, at the peak of the last housing boom.

“Over the last five years, there is clear evidence of a link between pay and the impact on affordability with house prices significantly outgrowing the average wages of key workers.”