Bulldozers are set to move in to tear down scores of abandoned council homes in Johnstone Castle.

A number of flats in Elm Drive, Cedar Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Tower Road and Maple Drive are to be flattened and replaced with around 100 new homes, ready from spring 2019.

Members of Renfrewshire’s Housing and Community Safety Policy Board approved the demolition of a total of 288 properties in the sprawling scheme back in August 2014.

At that time, the council had 194 tenants in the addresses approved for demolition, while 31 properties were privately owned.

To date, 66 demolitions have taken place and there are now 20 council tenants remaining, with five privately-owned properties.

The first tenant in Elm Drive was moved out in November 2014 and the last left the condemned properties in September 2017.

Preparation work for the demolition of properties at 75 to 97 Elm Drive has now started, with the contract awarded to Reigart.

It is expected that demolition and clearance of this site will begin within weeks and be completed no later than October this year.

The demolition contracts for properties at 10 to 22 Cedar Avenue and 18 to 22 Tower Road have still to be signed but it is expected that the successful contractor will be on site sometime next month.

Builders should then be on site around May to erect the first 48 of the 95 homes being constructed, with the first completions expected around one year from now.

A spokeswoman for Renfrewshire Council said: “A Compulsory Purchase Order has been completed for the council-owned flats in Elm Drive and the properties are now vacant.

“Tenants have been moved as part of the regeneration of Johnstone Castle.

“The planning application for the new-build properties for Johnstone Castle included the felling of some trees, with replacement trees being planted as part of the regeneration works.

“The contractor is currently cutting the trees in preparation for the demolition of these blocks, which is forecast to begin in six weeks.”