A £7 million plan to build 120 new council houses in Barrhead has been approved.

East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) has been given the green light for new social housing – the first to be built since the end of Right to Buy.

Councillors heard how the end of the scheme, which had been in place since 1980, resulted in a financial windfall for the council after tenants rushed to buy their homes.

Now ERC says it is “financially viable” for the authority to press ahead with plans to build new homes in a bid to combat increasing housing waiting times.

More than 90 people have applied to buy their homes from ERC - resulting in an extra £200,000 for council coffers.

The homes will be built around the Blackbyres Road, Cross Arthurlie Street, Fenwick Drive and Balgraystone Road areas of the town, and early artists impressions have already been released.

Councillor Danny Devlin, convener of housing, said: “This is fantastic news for East Renfrewshire residents as the council prepares to start its most extensive house building programme in a generation.

“Through the Right to Buy policy, the council’s stock has reduced by around 50 per cent over the last three decades and many of the homes sold were popular family homes in sought-after areas.

“We will now work closely with local residents to ensure these new plans meet their housing needs.”

The proposal was welcomed by councillors at a meeting of ERC’s cabinet on Wednesday.

It is also thought that the total number of homes eventually built could increase, depending on the level of grant funding secured from the Scottish Government.

Council leader Jim Fletcher said: “We are committed to providing modern, affordable homes which meet the needs of our residents. By taking forward these plans it will allow us to create new communities within East Renfrewshire which will enhance the surrounding areas.

“It is exceptionally pleasing that these properties will be more energy efficient which will be hugely beneficial for residents.

“As the plans are developed further all Registered Tenant Organisations will be consulted, as well as the wider tenant body, to make sure that we deliver first-class homes for our residents.”

The programme of work is part of the council’s strategic housing investment plan, launched last year, which will see a total of £10.4m invested into building more than 200 new homes for social rent by 2020.