DEPUTY First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today pledged "decisive action" to help the construction industry tackle the economic downturn, including funding a development in West Lothian.
Ms Sturgeon revealed that "accelerated investment" of £9 million would be ploughed into a string of housing developments across Scotland, allowing housing associations to purchase unsold stock from the private sector.
But there was no word of bri
nging forward extra money for the Capital, where city leaders are struggling with the demand for an estimated 12,000 affordable homes in the next ten years.
West Lothian will get a share of £3.5m to finance the building of 24 new properties for Almond Housing Association by the end of next year.
A further £4.1m will fund land purchase by housing associations for future developments in Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Falkirk, East & West Dunbartonshire, and Argyll, and £1.4m will go to fund the purchase of unsold stock from the private sector in Falkirk and Perth and Kinross.
Ms Sturgeon was due to say today: "The Scottish Government is under no illusion about the serious challenges facing Scotland's housebuilders.
"We are taking decisive action, within our powers, to help alleviate the brunt of the credit crunch on developers, and assist the delivery of more affordable homes.
"Housing associations will be able to buy off-the-shelf stock from the private sector. It will help the hard-pressed construction industry and increase much-needed affordable housing.
"This funding will kick-start site construction across Scotland, which I hope will herald a revival in the fortunes of Scotland's hard-pressed housebuilding industry."
Frank Anderson, executive councillor for services for the community on West Lothian Council, welcomed the extra funding.
"It will provide much-needed affordable housing for local people," he said.
"We would welcome the opportunity for further discussions about other possible funding as there is a continuing need for more affordable housing in West Lothian."
Council leaders in Edinburgh want extra money to build thousands of new affordable homes.
A document submitted to ministers earlier this year outlined the extent of the housing crisis in the Capital, with close to 6000 families likely to be classed homeless next year.
Senior councillors said there is enough land in the city to solve the problem and said the council and its partners can use the economic slowdown to their advantage by buying up sites at knock-down prices.
The full article contains 407 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
