WORK towards hundreds of new homes across the area is set to start within weeks.

Councillors visited the contractor appointed to construct 321 properties, including at the former St Andrew’s School in Clydebank and former Haldane Primary site in Balloch.

CCG (Scotland) Ltd was appointed by West Dunbartonshire Council to move them closer to a target of 1,000 new energy efficient homes by 2021.

The firm will build a range of different homes including two, three and four-bedroom semi-detached, disabled bungalows, flats with disabled access, one-bedroom cottage flats and three-bedroom flats.

As part of the agreement, the company will also provide a number of community benefits including work placement opportunities for 30 people, the creation of 16 new jobs and apprenticeships for a further 22 people over the course of the contract.

The total cost of the developments will be £42.5million, and the appointment of CCG will allow the council to unlock a £19m Scottish Government grant, said the local authority.

Councillor Diane Docherty and Councillor Caroline McAllister, the convener and vice convener of housing and communities, visited CCG’s off-site manufacturing facility, CCG OSM, in Glasgow last week week to see how the homes would be manufactured.

Cllr Diane Docherty said: “As a council we are committed to providing good quality accommodation to our residents, and have pledged to build 1,000 energy-efficient homes by 2021.

“The appointment of CCG takes us ever closer to that target and I am looking forward to seeing work begin on the various sites across West Dunbartonshire.”

Cllr McAllister added: “The community benefits people will see through this contract with CCG are as important as the delivery of the homes.

“Using this project to help people who might benefit from on-the-job training, placements, or even just the chance of employment is a wonderful idea and a show of our commitment to giving back to residents in every way we possibly can.”

There will be 126 homes at the St Andrew’s site, 20 at Creveul Court, 55 at the Bellsmyre regeneration at Aitkenbar, 60 at Clydebank East and 60 at the Haldane Primary School site.

Calum Murray, Director of CCG, said: “The scale of the new affordable homes programme will ensure that many more people will benefit from CCG’s capabilities in delivering modern, energy efficient homes.”