THREE Barrhead eyesores will be cleared to make way for new social housing.

Barrhead councillors say the derelict sites in the centre of the town and in Auchenback will play a key role in East Renfrewshire Council’s major plans for new council houses.

The site of the former and infamous Barrhead Hotel and bingo hall on Cross Arthurlie Street has lain empty since both were demolished following a major fire at the bingo hall.

Former lock-ups in Fenwick Drive in Auchenback and the still vacant site of the high-rise flats on Blackbyres Road will also be developed.

The news comes after ERC announced major investment in social housing following its budget earlier this month.

Cllr Danny Devlin, convener of housing, said: “We are committed to providing the best quality homes possible for our residents so I’m delighted that we have made such a significant commitment to improving, and increasing, our housing stock.

“This will make a genuine difference to residents’ lives and I look forward to seeing the plan become a reality. It’s an exciting time as we enter the most extensive house building and investment programme in East Renfrewshire in a generation.”

Councillors approved the Housing Capital Programme for the next five years at the budget meeting, worth £32 million.

Key projects will include: l £4 million in upgrading central heating in social rent accommodation by 2021 l £1.4 million to rewire 400 properties l £8 million on external structural projects including roofs and rendering l £3.2 million invested in new internal elements such as kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors l £1.4 million upgrading sheltered housing l £14.4 million on new build council housing.

The announcement also follows the news that East Renfrewshire Council, supported by the Scottish Government, will be spending £900,000 on off-the-shelf accommodation by the end of March 2017, adding additional properties to the area’s social housing stock.

The high rise flats on Blackbyres Road were all that remained of the Bowerwalls estate and at one point was the largest building in East Renfrewshire. It was demolished more than 10 years ago and the site has remained vacant since.

The area is now overgrown and is considered an eyesore.