River Clyde Homes' tenants are set to get a major boost as Housing and Communities Minister, Alex Neil, today marked the start of work on 335 new homes.

A total of 15 apprenticeships are set to be created over the course of the three year period of the first two contracts. River Clyde Homes will build a total of 1,050 new homes throughout Inverclyde by 2015/16.

The new build programme is one of the largest underway in Scotland, reflecting River Clyde Homes' commitment to tenants to provide high quality social housing specifically designed to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

RCH, which is Scotland's newest and third largest housing association has been allocated £21m this year by the Scottish Government to support its new-build programme and the ongoing repair and maintenance work on existing properties.


Around £135m is expected to be spent delivering the 1,050 new properties over the next seven years and RCH is working closely with the Inverclyde Construction Forum to optimise opportunities for local suppliers and contractors wherever possible.

Speaking at the launch today, Alex Neil said: "This development will bring significant benefits to the people of Inverclyde. It is a shining example of how a local authority, housing association and housing developer can work together to enrich a community.

"It is crucial that across Scotland, we provide high quality, affordable homes and that is why we are investing record amounts, more than £1.5 bn over three years, to realise our ambitious plans."

The 335 houses planned for the first two development contracts comprise a mixture of two, three and four bedroom houses with gardens as well as five wheelchair accessible homes. Current RCH tenants whose homes are being demolished will move directly into the new-build properties on completion. Local communities have played an important role in the design of not only the houses but also the social space surrounding the developments.

Karen Neary, chief executive of River Clyde Homes, said: "This is a momentous day for River Clyde Homes and we are all delighted that work has now started giving local people the fresh start, bright future we promised at the time of the stock transfer.

"We have been liaising closely with local people in the regeneration areas who have been involved in everything from the appointment of the architects to how best to work with the sloping nature of the sites."

(GK/JM)